Dakshina Kannada stands third in state in excise revenue collection : George Pinto

Dakshina Kannada stands third in state in excise revenue collection : George Pinto

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 5, 2015: The Dakshina Kannada district Excise Department has stood third in the state as far as excise  revenue  collection  during the year 2014-15  is concerned and has  collected excise duty to the tune of Rs 340 crores.

 Informing this to reporters on May 5, Tuesday, George Pinto,  Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Dakshina Kannada District  has said that he was pleased to inform that  the department in the district could stand third in the state  next only to Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural, despite facing a shortage of staff.

He  informed that during the period excise arrears to the tune of Rs 25 lakh which was pending since several years,  has been recovered by the Department with regard to nine cases. This step was taken as per the directions of a Committee formed under the presidentship of the Deputy Commissioner by the government to recover arrears.

A total of 441 cases, 14 of them being serious offences  pertaining to illegal sale, transportation and stocking of liquor have been registered during the period in the district  and a fine amount of Rs 63,08,750 collected, George Pinto informed.

During the year 2014-15 the Department has registered a total of 255 cases pertaining to unauthorised sale of liquor in petty shops and  hotels in rural areas and has collected a fine amount of Rs 6,82,500. The accused in these cases have also been produced before the court, he added.

In total a fine amount of Rs 69,91,250 has been collected during the period and this was 98 per cent high when compared to the previous year, the Excise Deputy Commissioner informed.

Pinto also  claimed that the Department has succeeded in  eradicating all spurious liquor manufacturing dens  in the district. Still the Department is keeping a strict eye on some suspicious spots, he  added.

He said an excise revenue of Rs 973 crore was collected through sale of Indian made liquor and beer in the district during the year.

Pinto informed that there are 153 retail liquor stores (CL2), 215 bars (CL9), 41 lodging and boardings (CL7), 4 clubs, 11 government stores run by MSIL with CL11 licence and various other licensed stores in Dakshina Kannada district. The Department has informed 5,948 licences in 2014-15, he stated.

Krishna Prasad and Shiva Prasad, Excise officials were present.