The Excise Department has registered a significant growth in its revenue through sale of liquor during the current financial year.
The department has recorded revenue of ₹15,092 crore till February 15, almost ₹1,000 crore higher than the total revenue of ₹14,184 crore during the previous financial year.
The revenue is expected to go up further with more than a month to go with monthly average revenue estimated at more than ₹1,300 crore.
The department registered sale of 2.6 crore cases of Indian Made Liquor and 3.7 crore cases of beer till February 15.
The growth in revenue could be achieved in spite of the move to hike the prices of IML by around 10% a couple of months ago. According to senior officials, the growth could be achieved because of the change in the duty structure wherein the value added tax on excise which was hitherto going to Commercial Taxes was retained by the department after the changes in tax pattern ushered in by the Centre.
“We have streamlined the processes and procedures involved and ensured that there is little or no illicit distillation. The movement of the non-duty paid liquor has also been curtailed to a large extent,” Excise Department Principal Secretary Somesh Kumar told The Hindu .
The department secured more than ₹400 crore through application fee during the current year. Over 70 outlets which hitherto remained unallotted over the years had been restructured and relocated to areas that were not fully covered. Asked about the reported moves to increase the prices of beer, he said the prices of the commodity were revised much earlier and a tender committee had been constituted to hold consultations with the manufacturers for justification in the demand for increasing the prices.
The tender committee would complete the consultations and submit its recommendations to the Beverages Corporation in the due course and it is for the government to take a final call on the issue, he said.
