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Kochi March 4 The Kerala Builders Association (KBA) has decided to launch a State-wide agitation demanding immediate Governmental intervention into the serious crisis facing the construction sector in the State.

According to the association, the building construction industry in the State is heading for stagnation following the existing lame policies and unscientific rules. As part of the agitation, KBA will stage a dharna in front of the Kanayannur Taluk Office on Monday. An estimated 5,000 workers and representatives engaged in the construction sector will participate in the taluk office march.

Mr M.D. Jairaj, State President of the association, demanded that the Government declare building construction as an industry as it is the largest job-oriented sector providing employment to an estimated 3.5 lakh workers directly and another 2.5 million indirectly. Moreover, the sector is also contributing substantially to the State's economy.

He pointed out that more than 75 per cent of the investments in the building construction sector are being divided among construction workers and the State exchequer gets a substantial portion by way of taxes from the financial transactions.

District master plan

According to KBA, comprehensive master plans for each district are prepared, taking into account its developmental needs for the next 50 years by considering the specialties of each district. Steps may be taken to prepare the developmental plans of all the districts within two years.

The master plans of Kochi and that of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, which enjoyed various specialties, will be finalised within 6 months by visualising the speedier developmental scopes of these places.

According to him, excessive taxation on raw materials widely used in this sector resulted in artificial price rise and the KBA demands scaling down of VAT on building materials to 12.5 per cent in the forthcoming Kerala Budget.

Mr Sani Francis, General Convenor of the Joint Action Council, said that the burden of excessive stamp duty on registration results in a steep rise in the cost of buildingsMoreover, a system of imposition of a specific fee instead of stamp duty on land transaction taking place within three years may be introduced, which would help improve tax revenue on one hand and prevent the tendency of underrating land prices on the other.

More Stories on : Real Estate & Construction | Trade & Labour Unions | Kerala

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