Excise Commissioner Tsering Angchuk today reviewed physical and financial achievements of Excise Department here today. The Excise Commissioner also took stock of overall growth scenario of the revenue receipts of the department for the month of December and total revenue realized till the month of December for the financial year 2015-16 was also discussed threadbareIt was informed in the meeting that the revenue realization of the Department is going in an upward direction viz-a-viz revenue targets fixed for the Department for the financial year 2015-16. The total revenue realized by the Excise Department during the month of December 2015-16 has been recorded to the tune of Rs. 105 Crore in comparison to the Rs. 85.07 crore realized during December, 2014-15. The Department has to realize monthly revenue of Rs. 97.38 crore per month to achieve a target of Rs. 1168.60 crore fixed for the financial year 2015-16, which is being tapped. Upto the month of December, 2015-16, the department has realized an amount of Rs. 867.32 crore as against Rs. 748.44Crore upto the month of December, 2014-15.
Regarding eradication and enforcement activities the Excise Commissioner appreciated the comprehensive drive launched by the Excise Department to arrest the menace of illegal smuggling of liquor, illicit distillation and other violations of the J&K Excise Act, 1958, especially over charging. It was appreciated by the Excise Commissioner, that during the last three months, nakas were laid on various national highways to check the toll evasion and smuggling of illicit liquor. It was given out in the meeting, that more than 350 raids have been conducted in the entire Jammu division to arrest the menace of illegal smuggling of liquor from other States, illicit distillation of liquor and other violations. In the process during December 2015, arrest of ten persons has been made and cases have been lodged in various Courts of Law against the accused persons for illegal smuggling of liquor meant for sale in other States, illicit distillation of liquor and other ancillary offences.
More than eleven tons of Lahan, meant for manufacturing illicit liquor has also been destroyed in the entire Jammu division by the Excise sleuths who have conducted surprise raids in various areas to arrest the menace of illicit distillation. In the process, 248 bottles of illicit liquor have also been destroyed on spot. The J&K Excise Department has also launched a massive exercise to arrest the menace of over-charging by the retail licensees from customers and strict instructions have been issued in this regard. Surprises checks of and on are being conducted to arrest the problem. The chair was also apprised that During the last three month, more than Rs. 5 lakh has been imposed as fine on licensees mainly on the account of overcharging. During the meeting, all the officers of the Department were impressed upon to ensure strict vigil to improve revenue realization and work hard to generate revenue for the State.All the Deputy Excise Commissioners and Excise and Taxation officers were present in the meeting.