SHILLONG, April 27: As Meghalaya braces for a possible impact on its financial condition due to the pandemic, Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla on Tuesday said that revenue collected from excise duty on liquor will help meet the fund requirement of the state if the situation takes a turn for the worse, taking into account the rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 infections.
“We will be able to make useful contributions to the requirements of the government in the fight against the pandemic. As of now, the situation is still manageable,” Shylla told reporters here on Tuesday. The minister, however, hinted at going into another lockdown if the situation worsens.
Stating that the Excise department contributes to a major chunk of the revenue collected by the state exchequer, Shylla said that the government will have to look at other sources to generate funds if all shops are made to shut shop to combat the spread of the virus.
The excise minister also advocated the need to strike a balance so as to ensure that the people’s livelihood is not affected when restrictions are imposed to deal with the COVID-19 situation.
