CAPT AMARINDER ASKS FOR REVIEW OF COLLECTIONS EVERY FRIDAY, TAKE ALL STEPS TO BOOST REVENUE
ALL LIQUOR VENDS NOW OPEN, EXCEPT THOSE IN CONAINMENT ZONES, IN WAKE OF CM’S APPROVAL TO KEY POLICY AMENDMENTS
Chandigarh, May 15 : Contrary to speculation, the Punjab Excise Department has not incurred any losses in FY 2019-20, except those resulting from the Covid related curfew/lockdown, which are yet to be assessed.
महामारी फैली या फैलाई गई किया बड़ा खुलासा सुनिए Dr. Amar Singh Azad से
This was disclosed by the Excise Department at a meeting with the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to review the situation in the light of the amendments to the Excise Policy, as well as related matters.
Barring the losses incurred on account of the lockdown/curfew imposed in the light of the Covid pandemic, there were no losses suffered in fiscal 2019-20, the Excise Department told the review meeting.
The Chief Minister directed the department to expeditiously complete the pending tasks with respect to allotment of vends etc, and, at the same time, to take all possible steps to boost revenue. He further asked the department to review revenue collections every Friday to ensure timely ground assessment of the situation caused by the unprecedented lockdown.
The directives came even as all allotted vends in the state have opened, except those in the containment zones, pursuant to the key amendments approved by the Chief Minister in the Excise Policy for FY 2020-21 in view of the Covid crisis. In terms of numbers, this translates into 4404 liquor vends, run by 589 groups, now open in the state.
The Excise Department informed the Chief Minister that though the final figures for FY 2019-20 were yet to be worked out, indicative data shows that the excise revenue for the year was higher than that of the previous fiscal.
Giving details, the Department revealed that revenue receipts had shown marked increase since the Captain Amarinder government took over the state’s reigns in March 2017. From Rs. 4405.72 crore in FY 2016-17, the actual revenue received by the state exchequer shot up to Rs 5135.68 crore in FY 2017-18 – a whopping 16% increase in one year.
There was a slight dip in the Excise Department revenues in FY 2018-19, on account of quota and price reduction, as well as hike in VAT, which went up to 14%, along with some changes in GST, disclosed Department officials. The decrease was, however, marginal, with the actual receipts reported at Rs. 5073.79 crore.
