Several measures proved effective: Narayan Gad

Panaji: Goa’s excise revenue surged 33% to `865 crore in 2022-23, excise commissioner Narayan Gad said on Friday.

He said that excise collection, which had stood at `650 crore in 2021-22, increased to `865 crore in the previous year due to several measures implemented by the excise department. “Measures such as strict enforcement, plugging of revenue leakages, continuous monitoring and strict checking at border check-posts have led to increase in revenue,” Gad explained.

Goa’s excise revenue is mainly dependent on tourist footfall. The excise collection took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic due to liquor shops being closed for business and slowdown in tourist arrival.

However, post-pandemic with the revival in tourist arrival and liquor sales increasing, the excise revenue has bounced back.

Over the last two years reforms towards ease of doing business for liquor retailers have also yielded higher excise revenue to the government. These include issuance of long-term licences and extension in the validity of the liquor permit from one year to five years.

Traditionally excise revenue in the state has always been stronger in the second half of the year, viz. October-March.

The commissioner has urged liquor businesses in the state to follow all norms and guidelines and take all requisite permissions to avoid action by the department.

“As per the October 2022 amendment, liquor licences can be leased out or assigned to others. However, it is mandatory for the assignees to pay to the department 20% of the original licence fee,” he pointed out.

It is pertinent to note that in the last four days, several liquor shops in Calangute were raided by the department and high-end liquor worth around `3.5 lakh was seized over vending sans the requisite bills and transportation permits.

In Goa budget 2023-24, the excise duty on high-end liquor was reduced and duty on other categories of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) was marginally increased to shore up revenues.