PANJIM: After a drop in revenue collection owing to the ban on highway liquor sale and subsequent enforcement of the election code of conduct, the Commissionerate of Excise has witnessed an impressive jump in the last two months.
The department has earned Rs 27.45 crore in May and Rs 28.18 crore last month as against Rs 23.63 crore and Rs 25.34 crore recorded in the respective months of the preceding year. Interestingly, for April month, the drop was trivial at Rs one lakh.
Conceding that the two important developments shook the economic aspect to a certain extent, excise officials claim the market has now stabilized. “The market was disturbed but it has stabilized now. Our revenue collection has improved and one of those possibilities could be increase in purchase of stock (by those retailers who do not come under the ambit of the Supreme Court order),” Assistant Commissioner of Excise Satyawan Bhivshet told Herald.
The revenue comprises of license fee, excise duty, recording of label, fines, etc. “We expect good earning in the months to come,” he added.
However, the last financial year did witness a decline in the total revenue as it could not meet its target set at Rs 358 crore, yet again due to the election code and SC order. The department achieved Rs 320 crore instead but nevertheless, Bhivshet said, the department will meet its target of Rs 386 for the current fiscal year. During the year 2015-16, the department earned Rs 15 crore more than the target set at Rs 300 crore.
