Team Herald
PANJIM: Despite the Supreme Court’s order banning liquor outlets along National Highways, the State Excise Department has seen an almost 20 per cent increase in the tax collection.
As per information available, the tax collection up to October 31, 2018 has been Rs 229 crore as against Rs 190 crore during the same period last year.
“The target of the department was Rs 200 crore but we have crossed that by a huge margin,” Excise Commissioner Amit Satija told Herald.
Satija said if not for the Supreme Court ban the revenue would have been much more. “Around 3200 outlets were shut but as the relaxation came in now only 500-odd are remaining closed. Basically it did affect the revenue to an extent,” he stated.
The Commissioner said that the target for his department in the financial year is around Rs 430 crore, which they expect to surpass comfortably. Satija further said there were different factors for increase in revenue collection. “The government increased Excise duty and there was increase in tourist inflow besides we have strictly taken up enforcement of Excise laws,” he stated.
The Commissioner disclosed that till date they have booked approximately 300 cases under the Excise laws. “Fines for the violations have also been increased hence the collection has increased,” he said, adding that the peak tourist season is yet to come and hence they expect a massive increase in revenue.
