Latest StoriesRegulatory

Kerala collects ₹2,178.28 crore in building cess over five years

IDUKKI: The Kerala government has gathered Rs 2,178.28 crore from the building and other construction workers’ welfare cess over the past five years. However, pension arrears nearing Rs 840 crore remain unpaid to construction workers statewide. As per information obtained via the RTI Act by Kasaragod resident A S Mohammed Ashraf, approximately 20.59 lakh workers were registered with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board as of April 30, 2026. The welfare benefits, including pensions, are derived from the cess collected by the board. In spite of the significant revenue generated, nearly 4.15 lakh pensioners have not received their…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Kerala’s Luxury Tax on Big Homes Yields ₹157 Crore in 5 Years

IDUKKI: The luxury tax on residential buildings has generated ₹157.62 crore for the state over the past five years, with the highest revenue recorded in the 2025-26 financial year (FY). According to data obtained through the Right to Information Act, the state collected ₹67.66 crore in FY2025-26 alone, with Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram reported as the highest contributors. The luxury tax revenue for the preceding years was ₹58.46 crore in FY2024-25, ₹7.39 crore in FY2023-24, ₹11.18 crore in FY2022-23, and ₹12.91 crore in FY2021-22. Land revenue department officials attribute the increase in FY2025-26 to a growing number of larger homes and…