In 5 months, Thane Excise dept nets Rs 58 crore as license fees

Target achieved is 21% of anticipated revenue amounting Rs 244 crore

The excise department of Thane district has achieved 21 per cent of its anticipated target revenue of Rs. 244 crore in the first five months for the current fiscal, this despite a dip in collections due to the interim relief given by the judiciary to liquor vending establishments.

The excise wing has netted Rs. 58.06 crore towards new permits, renewals, shifting, name transfers and other types of privilege fees between April and August, this year.

However, a 6.63 per cent dip has been registered when compared to the collections during the corresponding period last year which stood at Rs. 64.69 crore. As against the anticipated target of Rs. 275 crore, the district excise wing had collected a little over Rs. 244 crore in the last fiscal (202021).

“There is a slight dip in collections, due to the pandemic induced closure of some establishments- mainly in municipal corporation regions falling under our jurisdiction, coupled by lower payments while availing monetary relief. However, we are confident of achieving 100 per cent target in due course of time,” said excise superintendentNilesh Sangade.

Presently, Thane district has 2,497 liquor vending establishments including- 258 country liquor shops (CL-3), foreign liquor shops (FL-2), 599 Beer Shops (FLBR-2) and 1,200 permit rooms (FL-3).

Speaking about the statistical figures related to Mira Road and Bhayandar, senior excise inspector Vijay Kumar Thorat said, “Out of the 130 licensed permit rooms only 100 had renewed their licenses, out of which 35 had paid the full amount while 65 had availed the 50 per cent interim relief. Apart from this there are 16 country liquor shops, 18 wine shops and 38 beer stores in the twin-city taking the total number of operational establishments to 172.”

Most of the licensees which have not renewed their permits are said to be owners of orchestra bars which appears to have hit a dead end due to indefinite closure due to the pandemic. Last year, the total number of establishments in Thane district stood at 2,491, the official said.