By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 23: Retail liquor vendors have expressed strong opposition to the state government’s decision to deduct 5 percent of their earnings to be paid to C-Tel Infosystem Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based company entrusted with implementing the Integrated Excise Management System (IEMS).
Under the new arrangement, the state government will pay 5 percent to the company, while 15 percent of the tax collected will go to the state exchequer.
Speaking to reporters, proprietor of Sam Khamti Winestore, Sam Diengdoh said that information obtained through an RTI revealed that the government will take 5 percent from the 20 percent revenue earned by retailers and transfer it to the Hyderabad firm, owned by one Singhania.
Diengdoh estimated that the company will earn around Rs 100 crore from this deduction.
He termed the move a huge loss to the state exchequer, arguing that such revenue could have been better utilised to pay government employees’ salaries or fund public welfare schemes.
He also raised concerns about transparency and accountability, saying the company will handle all financial records and could “manipulate figures at will.”
Diengdoh further alleged that the company will deduct Rs 2.40 per bottle of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) sold in the state. “This system has already failed in other states like Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Telangana, yet the Meghalaya government has decided to implement it here,” he said, calling the move exploitative toward local retailers and beneficial only to an outside company.
Diengdoh urged the government to review the decision and ensure proper regulation and transparency to prevent further financial loss and unfair treatment of local traders.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills Wine Dealers’ Welfare Association had already filed a writ petition in the High Court of Meghalaya, challenging the government’s actions related to the liquor trade — particularly the introduction of the IEMS and the reduction of profit margins for retailers.
The association has alleged that the government’s moves are intended to benefit C-TEL Infosystems, Hyderabad, which is implementing the new system.
