The state government crackdown on illicit liquor manufacturers and smugglers as per the new Excise Policy resulted in quantum jump in excise revenue collection in the first quarter of 2018-19 fiscal ending June 30.
During the Apr-June quarter, the excise revenue jumped by almost 60 % to Rs 2,329 crore in UP. In June, 2018, the Excise department clocked Rs 1,678 crore as excise collections against Rs 1,324 crore in June 2017, thus reporting a 25 % hike in the monthly earnings.
The government has directed Excise department officials for a total clamp down against illicit liquor manufacturing and smuggling, since Excise revenue formed a major part of the state’s resources.
The new policy had reduced Excise Duty to bring about a parity in tax structure between UP and other neighbouring states to curb rampant liquor smuggling.
So far, Excise Vigilance team rounded up 8,851 persons engaged in the nefarious business this year. Besides, 3, 27,000 litres of illicit liquor and 116 vehicles were seized and 480 accused were sent to jail.
Meanwhile, owing to robust sugarcane and sugar production this year, molasses production also witnessed growth. Till June, 2018, 54 lakh metric tons (MT) of molasses was produced, 37% higher than last year. Besides, 35,000 MT of molasses was also exported to other states. Similarly, alcohol production recorded an upsurge at 60 crore Ml till June 2018, rising by 20% as compared to last year. About 51 lakh litres of alcohol was also exported to foreign countries.
The Assembly in December, 2017, passed ‘The UP Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2017’ providing for death penalty and life imprisonment to those dealing in spurious liquor. Beside death penalty and life sentence, it also provided for a fine upto Rs 10 lakh and not less than Rs 5lak in case of death caused due to consumption of spurious liquor.