Excise's revenue up by 60%; Minister Suklabaidya directs Police to mobilise flying squad, step up drive agains illicit liquor

The Assam Minister for Environment and Forest, Fisheries and Excise, Parimal Suklabaidya reviewed the status and progress of different schemes of his departments under the Kamrup metropolitan district on Monday. In a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) Biswajit Pegu, MLAs Ramendra Narayan Kalita and Atul Bora, Principal Secretary, Excise, Rajesh Prasad, ADCs, Circle Officers, Excise officials and inspectors at the DC’s conference hall, Minister Parimal Suklabaidya asked the officials to step up the drive against illicit liquor (sulai) and liquor from Arunachal Pradesh in the district.

Cabinet Minister Parimal Suklabaidya while taking stock of 302 IMFL Off and 216 On shops and 72 country spirit shops operating in the metropolitan district, asked the officials to verify the documents whether they are being operated by the original licensee or bogus persons. He directed the officials to form flying squads headed by an Inspector for inspection of the documents.

The Minister also asked the officials to see whether spurious liquor is being sold with fake branding. He directed the officials to take immediate action against those making illicit liquor from molasses (lali gur) and fermented wash which poses serious health hazards.

On revenue mobilisation, the Superintendent, Excise, informed that more than Rs 69 crore has been generated during April-May this year which is a 60 per cent increase compared to the same corresponding period last year. The Minister asked the officials to keep a close tab on the dhabas and restaurants serving liquor late into the night and to initiate stringent steps against them. The Principal Secretary, Rajesh Prasad also asked the officials to step up the drive against liquor from Arunachal Pradesh being sold in Guwahati and to initiate action against those flouting Excise rules and cancellation of licences.

Parimal Suklabaidya, the MLA from Dholai, asked the officials to promote ‘ethnic drinks’ which will put a stop to illicit liquor and generate revenue as well as means of livelihoods for a section of people associated with the trade. Regarding this, he said, “We have to regulate and streamline everything associated with liquor to mobilise revenue and most importantly to stop illicit liquor endangering many lives.”

MLAs Ramendra Narayan Kalita and Atul Bora assured the Minister of their support and cooperation in putting a halt to illicit liquor (sulai) and preventing the sale of liquor from Arunachal. A few weeks back, a combined raid of the Army, CRPF, Assam Police and Excise had busted 19 illicit liquor dens in the district of Tinsukia and in the process, destroyed 38,000 litres of fermented wash (FW) which also happened to be the biggest illicit liquor raid in the district.