-SATISH HANDA

 Haryana state became a hub for sale and smuggling of illicit liquor in North when huge quantity of English wine and Desi liquor was smuggled to dry states Bihar and Gujarat as well as U.P, Punjab and Delhi during lock down period declared by the government last year by liquor mafias started manufacturing fake liquor illegally in residential as well as in rural areas. Police as well as excise department in the state jointly started raids against such illegal manufacturers and smugglers after the incident in which nearly 50 persons died after consuming liquor in the state. Excise department along with police also busted several gangs involved in this illegal business in the state as a result state excise department earned revenue worth Rs 1300 crore towards recovery of additional tax.

However, state excise department was able to collect lesser amount worth Rs 52 crore towards auction of liquor vends for the year 2020-21 as compared to the target fixed by the government due to epidemic outbreak during the year but in-spite of adverse effect of KOVID-19 state excise department witnessed bumper sale during the year as compared to previous year 2019-20 when sale of both English wine as well as Desi liquor was much lesser than the target. Information reveals, during year 2019-20, the total amount towards auction of liquor vends in the year was collected Rs 3712 crore, which included 2,33,33531 cases Desi liquor and 96,290,000 cases English wine. Whereas, amount towards auction of liquor vends during the year 2020-21 was reduced to Rs 3360 crore which included 49,09,636 cases Desi liquor13,49,988 cases English wine were sold more than the fixed quota.

Information reveals, good results were seen due to strict action taken by both state excise department as well as police against liquor smuggling since liquor was being supplied from some of the distilleries without bills, at times the supplies were made twice against a single permit issued by excise department which was smuggled to other states thus incurring theft towards sales tax and exise duty. Anurag Rustogi Chief Secretary Excise & Taxation Department Haryana told that the department has yet to recover balance amount worth Rs 48 crore pending against liquor vendors before May 19, 2021 when auction for new liquor vends for the year 2021-22 will be held. He said, all DETC have been directed to collect pending amount on top priority.

Out of total amount of recovery against liquor vendors include amount worth Rs 13.86 crore from Sonepat, Rs 7.75 crore from Jagadhari, Rs 4.72 crore from Ambala, Rs 4.39 crore from Gurugram West, Rs 3.32 crore from Karnal, Rs 2.88 crore from Gurugram East, Rs 2.53 crore from Faridabad, Rs 1.96 crore from Kaithal, Rs 1,74 crore from Panipat, Rs 1.56 crore from Jind, Rs 1.20 crore from Fatehabad and amount in thousands to be recovered from few other districts