PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has directed Excise Department to reconsider the proposed tax hike on liquor in Goa. He has also assured to consider demand for tax exemption for Goa’s heritage drink feni.
His statement comes minutes after delegation of Goa Liquor Traders Association met him requesting to give relaxation over the hike in tax on liquor.
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“I have ordered Excise Department to rethink on tax hike. Government is also thinking on exempting feni from duty,” he said.
The association members earlier discussed the issue with the chief minister explaining that the hike in duty will further increase the rate of liquor in Goa. This in turn will affect its sale as several tourists purchase liquor from here.
“The rate of liquor will increase compared to other states. We, therefore, requested the CM to reconsider the decision and he has assured that government will work out a plan wherein the State will get revenue and liquor traders will also not feel the pinch,” Association President Dattaprasad Naik told reporters after the meeting.
“The CM assured us that he will look into our demand of restructuring proposed duty hike. He also told us that wine and feni be exempted. We are not demanding complete roll back,” the members further said.
Naik also clarified that the present hike is not 50 percent as reported by media in Southern states but hike varies between 3-10 percent.
