Kerala govt to include 'flood cess'; hike in movie tickets, beer and wine prices

Movie tickets and beer and wine prices are to be hiked and a 'flood cess' slapped in cash-strapped Kerala as the CPI(M)-led LDF government presented its first post-flood budget Thursday in an effort to mobilise additional resources to rebuild the state. As the southern state faced a severe financial crunch, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac presented the budgetary proposals for 2019-20 fiscal, giving thrust to a massive rebuilding exercise.

He proposed 25 new projects to resurrect Kerala after the devastation caused by the deadliest flood of the century last August. "This is a budget for creating a new Kerala," Isaac said stating that Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for the 'Rebuild Kerala' initiative in the plan.