Opposition walk-out over demand for enquiry into reduction of fire licence fee

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition staged a walk-out in the in Kerala Assembly today in protest against the government refusing to accept their demand for an enquiry by Assembly committee into reduction of fire licence fee for high-rise flats.

The Chief Minister said that the hike, which was 900 per cent, was reduced as such a rate hike was impractical to implement. The neighbouring Tamil Nadu had no such fee.  It was Rs. 20 a square metre in Karnataka which was adopted in Kerala also.

The Chief Minister said that the previous government had raised the rent for government land leased to clubs to impractical levels. The present government proposed to reduce it.

The stern response from the Chief Minister invited protests from the Opposition and some members rushed into the well of the House. Altercation between Opposition and ruling Front members led to some ruling Front members also moving towards the well of the House to directly confront the Opposition. Mr. Palode Ravi, who was in the Chair, asked the ruling Front members to go back to the seat and Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan announced a walk-out, defusing the situation.

The Opposition Leader said in a submission that it was the practice of UDF government to hike licence fees to high levels and then reduce it after collecting bribes. So, a detailed enquiry was needed into the matter.

He noted that Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had reduced the fee from Rs. 100 to Rs. 20 a square metre for flats having a height of 35 metres or more after representation by confederation of associations of developers. The Fire and Rescue Service Chief Jacob Thomas was shifted over this issue.

Mr. Chennithala said that the licence fee was hiked twice in recent years to increase non-tax revenue as per recommendation of Fire and Rescue Services Department. As this gave rise to a lot of complaints and litigation, the government discussed the issue and compared the rates with those of other States. As the hike was abnormal, it was reduced. It had nothing to do with the transfer of Fire and Rescue Services Chief.