Haryana eyes more excise on account of new policy

Haryana hopes the newly-announced excise policy would help its excise revenue during the 2008-09 fiscal grow to Rs 1,440 crore, about Rs 115 crore more than the target of the current financial year.

While giving a relief to the licensees, the system of payment of 80 per cent licence fee in eight instalments has been revised to nine instalments, and the last date for depositing the fee has been extended by five days to 20th of every month.

The policy also allows the access to imported liquor for defence personnel through canteen stores. However, an assessment fee of Rs 200 per bottle shall be levied.

Further, the number of vends has been reduced to 3,800 from 4,000. Wine along with imported foreign liquor such as whisky, beer, vodka, gin and rum will be allowed to be sold at departmental stores in shopping malls.

According to the policy, no liquor vend would be allowed in Kurukshetra, Thanesar (except Pipli along the National Highway) and Pehowa for 2008-09.

It was also observed in the Cabinet meeting that the collections from excise revenue have gone up significantly during the last three years "" from Rs 1,013 crore to an estimated Rs 1,325 crore in the current financial year.

Also, the licence fee has gone up from Rs 717crore to Rs 925 crore in the current year. While the total excise revenue collection was Rs 923.29 crore in 2003-04, it was Rs 1,013.02 crore in 2004-05, followed by Rs 1,107 crore in 2005-06. It further increased to Rs 1,228 crore in 2006-07 and is estimated to be around Rs 1,325 crore in 2007-08.