Despite facing many hurdles to bring new Liquor Policy of Jharkhand Government back on track which was launched on May 1 the Excise Department on Wednesday claimed that it has collected highest ever revenue in any single months from liquor sale. In the month of May, Rs 188 crores have been earned under the new liquor policy.
Addressing a press meet Excise Department Secretary, Vinay Choubey said that there are still many glitches the department is facing like can't find popular brands if available, it is not available in every size, acute shortage of beer wherever it is available, only hot beer is available even in bars, there is a shortage of beer and popular liquor, online payment system has not been started in most of the shops. But the department is performing well in terms of liquor sale, he added.
Choubey said that the State experimented on many types of liquor policies but this time the liquor policy is best suited for revenue. “Even before this, two experiments have been done in Jharkhand regarding the liquor policy but the new liquor policy is very effective in terms of earning revenue. The previous liquor policy has been changed in 2017. This liquor policy was effective in March 2017. The department had earned only Rs 23 crore that month. At the same time, there was a lot of chaos regarding that liquor policy. Police had to be deployed in liquor shops. At the same time, once again when there was a change in the liquor policy in 2019, it was implemented from the month of April. In that month, the department had earned only Rs 152 crores. On the other hand, in March 2022, then only Rs 156 crores and in April Rs 109 crores was earned. But in the month of May, Rs 188 crores have been earned under the new liquor policy which is about Rs 36 crores more. Out of Rs 188 crores, 183 crores have been deposited in the Government's treasury. The balance amount will be deposited in the account of the Government soon,” he added.
The Secretary said that this time the liquor policy has been made under a very good system.” It was quite challenging to get the policy on the ground but now this policy is running effectively due to all the co-working agencies including the Department of Excise. In this policy, care has been taken that the monopoly of liquor business should not stop in the hands of anyone. Whole sale work to some other company and transporting work to another company. Supply of man power to some other company and the work of collection of cash is in the hands of some other company. So the job of security guards has been given to someone else. In such a situation, the liquor business will not be the right of any one. All these agencies have been reinstated under online tender,” he added.
Choubey said that this time the maximum focus has been on earning revenue in the liquor policy. “In the earlier liquor policies, the Government used to get revenue on the sale but under this policy, the Government gets revenue only on demand. For this reason, despite the condition of liquor shops being liquor, the department has earned more. At present, 1434 liquor shops have been opened across the State and more shops will be opened soon,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner of Excise Department, Amit Kumar, in response to the question said that online payment has started in some shops of big cities including Ranchi and the rest of the shops will also start soon. He said that at present an agreement has been signed with Punjab National Bank and talks are going on