State Cabinet bids to increase Excise revenue
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a bid to generate additional revenue for the Excise Department, the State Cabinet on Friday approved the increase of fees for procuring and renewing different categories of license required for liquor outlets.
Talking to reporters here on Friday, Excise Minister AT Mondal said that the increase in fees will help the department in generating an additional revenue of Rs 1.22 crore. With the new rates, the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) retail shops will now have to pay Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 50,000 annually while Army canteens will now pay Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 20,000.
It may be mentioned that the last increase in the amount for acquiring liquor licenses was made in 2008.
The bars in and around the city will also bear the brunt as they have to pay Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 40,000 as the change in rates come into effect.
According to Mondal, the State Excise Department has targeted to generate a revenue of Rs 148 crore this year.
“Last year we managed to earn a revenue of Rs 129.12 crore even as the target set was Rs 124.42 crore,” Mondal informed.
However, despite the increase in license fee, the department is losing out on a large chunk of revenue to the many illegal wine shops that function throughout the state.
Reacting to a query, Mondal said that the Department is trying its best to ensure that there is no leakage of revenue. “We are frequently conducting raids in illegal wine shops,” he added.