The News Minute | September 20, 2014 | 1.32 pm ISTThe cash strapped Kerala government recently announced its decision to increase cess and taxes in water, liquour and tobacco. The government's aim to make Rs. 2000 crore more in taxes has been challenged at a political level by opposition parties. But the bigger ques being raised is why should he got increase cess and taxes when it already has to recover crores from defaulter. The Kerala electricity board and water authority have to receive Rs. 1,700 crore from defaulters. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has to receive Rs. 1309 crores from defaulters in the financial year 2012-13 alone. There are seven institutions that have dues in the range of Rs. 25-90 crore. The Kerala Water Authority, in the same financial year, has to receive Rs. 450 crore from defaulters. Most of the defaulters are private institutions like hotels and hospitals, said a report in the PeopleTV.Rather than collecting the dues from defaulters, the cabinet has decided to increase water, liquour and tobacco taxes for all people of the state.