PALAKKAD: : The government’s decision to reciprocate and charge a hefty tax from all- India permit tourist vehicles entering Kerala from Karnataka has left scores of tourists, pilgrims and public travelling to the state in dire straits.
A large number of tourists from Karnataka who arrived last week in all-India permit vehicles are parking their vehicles in places bordering Walayar, Manjeswaram and Muthanga and proceeding in hired vehicles from Kerala and many are returning after cutting short their trip.
Reciprocal Clause
Assistant Motor vehicle Inspector Anil Kumar, stationed at the Walayar checkpost says, “Kerala has a reciprocal agreement with states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. As a result, 12-seater vehicles (tempo travellers) with all-India permit from these states need to remit only a quarterly tax to enter Kerala (Rs 42,000) and can remain here for three months while a vehicle from Karnataka will have to pay the full annual tax pegged at Rs 1,68,000 (42,000 X 4) even if they are here for a week.
The same rule is applied by the Karnataka Government on Kerala-bound vehicles for the past two years”.
Malayalees most hit
Motor Vehicle Inspector at Manjeswaram checkpost, A K Rajeev, points out that “the matter has been raised by elected representatives at the taluk sabha and the Kasaragod district development committee meet and it has been informed to the Joint Transport Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram as well. Keralites are apparently the most affected since a sizeable number are employed outside the state. On the anvil is a ‘green tax’ which could pinch the pockets further”.
He adds that during the Sabarimala season, a sea of devotees reach the state from remote areas of Karnataka in all-India permit tempo travellers. The decision would hit them hard.