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Excise Department deprived of funds despite huge earnings
Income from liquor sales is the second biggest revenue source for the government after commercial taxes. The government has 4,500 odd liquor outlets in the 13 districts of the State and around 750 bars. The sale is increasing every year in leaps and bounds and the income is close to touching Rs 14,000 per annum.
Visakhapatnam: Income from liquor sales is the second biggest revenue source for the government after commercial taxes.The government has 4,500 odd liquor outlets in the 13 districts of the State and around 750 bars. The sale is increasing every year in leaps and bounds and the income is close to touching Rs 14,000 per annum.
Highlights:
- Tasks of public interest like prevention of ganja harvest and smuggling in the Agency area put on hold due to cash crunch
- The department should be equipped with modern arms, say officials
The excise minister KS Jawahar recently said people in Andhra Pradesh had consumed Rs13,641 crore spirit during 2016-17 financial year, a 7.79 per cent jump from 2015-16 fiscal year when consumption touched to Rs 12,655 crore.
Unfortunately the excise department, which makes this huge income possible is craving for funds for carrying out some tasks of public interest. The important being prevention of ganja harvest and smuggling in the Agency. During the first week of this month, a coordination meeting was held in this regard which was chaired by HRD Minister GantaSrinivasa Rao.
It was decided to set up a task force comprising police, excise and revenue to destroy the crop using latest technology and manpower. However, the task force was put on hold due to paucity of funds but mapping was completed using drones. Now the excise department will go for chemicals to destroy the crop completely.
Unless we get funds, it would be difficult to curb ganja smuggling. We require men, technology armed assistance,’’ said a senior official of excise department.
Sources said the department has sought Rstwo crore to continue the present operation of destroying ganja plants in the agency area. Both excise and police launched a joint operation two days ago and destroyed lakhs of plants. The drive will continue for some time, he added.
Another official involved in the present operation said the department should be equipped with modern arms as they would be moving close to the Maoist dominated areas. Presently the armed police personnel were accompanying them which might not be possible throughout the year, he added.
