Govt defends Excise Dept, says revenue doubled to Rs 900 cr

PANAJI
Responding to criticism from the Opposition legislators over the functioning of the Excise Department citing recent cases of illegal manufacture and transportation of alcohol, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the revenue realised through this department had doubled to Rs 900-plus crore last financial year which is almost double of what it was in 2020.

Sawant also said that the department’s net revenues will increase even more in the current financial year.

The chief minister also said that one officer is currently under suspension and disciplinary proceedings are in process against 17 other staffers of the department.

Sawant said the department is also in the process of implementing compulsory holograms on alcohol bottles to check the illicit business.

Earlier during the discussion on the demands, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao accused officials of the Excise Department of being in connivance with those involved in illegal manufacture of alcohol in Goa which is then transported out of the State.

Alemao said, the incident in June where one such truck carrying a consignment of illegally manufactured alcohol got gutted in fire was an “eye-opener” regarding the illicit manufacture and transportation or smuggling out of alcohol.

He also alleged that Goa’s borders are porous and alcohol is being transported without any checks beyond the State through Latambarcem in Bicholim and demanded that some mechanism be evolved to tackle this.

“These things cannot happen without officials being involved, what action will you (government) take to identify these rogue officials and then act against them,” Alemao asked.

Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, Quepem MLA, Altone D’Costa and St Andre MLA, Viresh Borkar also criticised the functioning of the Excise Department saying that large scale alcohol trading and movement is going unaccounted.