Thiruvananthapuram: Within four months from the beginning of the new financial year, monthly expenses of an average Kerala family has increased considerably in the range of Rs 5,000 - Rs 10,000. Family budgets have soared with the rise in fuel prices, water bills and electricity rates.

Vegetable prices have skyrocketed and property taxes also keep increasing every year.

The fuel prices have increased by Rs 2 since April. The water tariffs have also increased in these months. To make things worse, in the month of July, people in Kerala were greeted with electricity bills with an additional surcharge of 18 paise per unit.

The rise in property tax and interest rates on pending tax filings are burning a hole in people’s pockets. The increase in building permit fees have also burdened commoners. Earlier, buildings spread over an area of up to 150 square metres were not required to pay the ‘permit fee’, but now the ceiling has come down to 80 square metres. As per the new rules, Rs 50 will have to be paid per square metre, as permit fee for buildings spread over 81-150 square metres.  

The price of motor vehicle (two-wheelers and four-wheelers) have soared since April. Similarly, land values and registration charges have also increased considerably over the last few months.

According to financial expert Dr Mary George, “The increase in prices across various sectors in recent times range somewhere between 30 percent - 300 percent.” The trend is not all encouraging for the common man.