Liquor sale drops by 65% after Jharkhand lifts ban order
RANCHI: Liquor sale dropped by 65 per cent in Jharkhand post withdrawal of ban order which was earlier put in place due to the lockdown, officials said on Wednesday.
The data was tumbled out during a review meeting of the excise department on Wednesday chaired by excise minister Jagarnath Mahato.
The state government had lifted the ban on May 20, however, sale of liquor was yet to pick up in the lockdown, the minister said.
“I have directed officials to mop up the losses incurred during and meet the monthly target,” he said. The government has set a target of Rs 1,800 crore from sale of liquor this fiscal.
The government recently hiked value-added tax (VAT) on India-made foreign liqour (IMFL) by 25% and levied 10 per cent special excise duty on the maximum retail price (MRP).
Giving details, Mahto said that spurious liquor was in circulation during the lockdown and it still continues. “Directives have been issued to conduct raids to stop sale of spurious liquor that eats up 50 per cent of the revenue. Stern action will be taken against concerned officials if sale of spurious liquor is found in their areas,” he said.
He, however, mentioned that most of the posts in the excise department were vacant and said the government would start hiring to fill up the vacancies.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Jharkhand retail liquor seller’s association (JRLSA) called on Mahto and urged him to continue flexible tax regime till November this year, currently offered to retailers till May 31.
This means, the government would realise taxes from the retailers on the quantity they lift from state beverage corporation godowns and not fix it on a monthly basis.
The retailers also pleaded to do away with excise transport duty up to November citing low sale. The duty adds on to prices that restricts sale, vis-a-vis tax collection, said JRLSA general secretary Subodh Jaiswal.
There will be no marriage parties due to which liquor consumption can go up, followed by rainy season and auspicious religious occasions that further brings down liquor sale, Jaiswal said.