GURUGRAM: Tipplers are desperately waiting for the lockdown to end, and so is the excise department, one of the major sources of revenue for Haryana government. The lockdown is causing losses of around Rs 19 crore daily for the department. In Gurgaon, its top revenue generator in the state, the department is incurring losses of around Rs 5 crore daily.
While the new excise policy was framed with the hope to increase revenue for the 2020-21 fiscal, the department has earned almost no revenue since it came into effect on April 1. It is staring at negative growth for the first time in its history, excise officials said.
“Even after the lockdown, social distancing will continue for a few more months and footfalls at pub, bars and restaurants will be very low. This will have an impact on our revenue generation. Along with the excise department, distilleries, liquor distributors and vends are all facing the burnt,” said a senior excise official, adding that revenue target for the department is increased by 10% every year and so far they have been achieving these targets, but 2020-21 is going to be a difficult year.
Deputy excise commissioner HC Dahiya said they are incurring losses of Rs 5 crore in Gurgaon daily. “Covid-19 has affected everyone in the economic chain. At present, the priority is on dealing with the pandemic. We hope everything will be back on track in coming weeks,” Dahiya said.
Smuggling of liquor, however, has witnessed a spurt during the lockdown. Gurgaon police has registered two FIRs daily on an average for illegal transportation of liquor between March 25 and April 25.
Police has seized nearly 15,000 bottles of liquor, including 11,000 bottles of country-made liquor and 4,000 of Indian-made foreign liquor.
“Our team is actively checking illegal transportation of liquor. We’re are registering cases and making recoveries of illegal liquor almost on a daily basis,” ACP (crime) Preet Pal Sangwan said.
While the new excise policy was framed with the hope to increase revenue for the 2020-21 fiscal, the department has earned almost no revenue since it came into effect on April 1. It is staring at negative growth for the first time in its history, excise officials said.
“Even after the lockdown, social distancing will continue for a few more months and footfalls at pub, bars and restaurants will be very low. This will have an impact on our revenue generation. Along with the excise department, distilleries, liquor distributors and vends are all facing the burnt,” said a senior excise official, adding that revenue target for the department is increased by 10% every year and so far they have been achieving these targets, but 2020-21 is going to be a difficult year.
Deputy excise commissioner HC Dahiya said they are incurring losses of Rs 5 crore in Gurgaon daily. “Covid-19 has affected everyone in the economic chain. At present, the priority is on dealing with the pandemic. We hope everything will be back on track in coming weeks,” Dahiya said.
Smuggling of liquor, however, has witnessed a spurt during the lockdown. Gurgaon police has registered two FIRs daily on an average for illegal transportation of liquor between March 25 and April 25.
Police has seized nearly 15,000 bottles of liquor, including 11,000 bottles of country-made liquor and 4,000 of Indian-made foreign liquor.
“Our team is actively checking illegal transportation of liquor. We’re are registering cases and making recoveries of illegal liquor almost on a daily basis,” ACP (crime) Preet Pal Sangwan said.
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Quick Links
Kerala Coronavirus Helpline NumberHaryana Coronavirus Helpline NumberUP Coronavirus Helpline NumberBareilly NewsBhopal NewsCoronavirus in DelhiCoronavirus in HyderabadCoronavirus in IndiaCoronavirus symptomsCoronavirusRajasthan Coronavirus Helpline NumberAditya ThackerayShiv SenaFire in MumbaiAP Coronavirus Helpline NumberArvind KejriwalJammu Kashmir Coronavirus Helpline NumberSrinagar encounter
Get the app