CM: Need good mechanism to boost liquor revenue

Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren on Monday directed the state excise department to strengthen the monitoring mechanism of retail liquor shops to curb instances of overcharging from customers, illegal sale of adulterated spirits from authorised shops or otherwise among other ills to increase revenues.
Soren issued the directives at a meeting in the evening to review the implementation of the new excise policy, which has failed to reap revenue benefits to the state exchequer, as projected earlier. Under the new policy, the state took over the sale of liquor.
Against the target of Rs 1,600 crore revenue till November in this fiscal year, the department could only collect Rs 1,084 crore, 68% of the target, said a communique from the state IPRD department.
Soren warned the agencies, engaged in supplying manpower and liquor stocks to retail outlets, of action if things doesn’t improve in next fortnight. “There have been reports of over pricing, lack of stocks of varied brands and adulteration at many places. Officials must curb these soon and devise a mechanism to ensure that the targeted revenue is achieved in four months.”
During the meeting, it came to fore that those working at liquor shops aren’t paid for months by manpower agencies. Soren directed the agencies to clear the salary dues.
Excise department secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey said the department has initiated punitive action against the erring shops and their agencies concerned.