VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Nov. 9: Days after the excise inspector of Pakur district, Ashutosh Kumar, was suspended for not meeting the sale target of liquor in his district, the excise officials resented the suspension and said that the people of Jharkhand can’t be forced to consume alcohol.
A senior official of the department admitted that there is an atmosphere of disappointment owing to poor sales across the state. “What to do if the sales are not improving.” asked the official.
“Liquor is something that we can’t force people to purchase and consume. Everything possible is being done to increase the sale. Regular raids are being carried out to stop illegal sale of liquor. Directions are given during the review meeting also. But I am not a competent person to comment on whether the new policy is perfect or needs some corrections,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the action against the Pakur excise inspector has caused murmuring over the new excise policy as well.
“Yes, the sale has witnessed a decline. But it is not because of us only. Those who decide the policy matters and execute the same are not ready to plug in loopholes of the policy,” said an official on the condition of anonymity.
Notably, the new excise policy introduced by the Hemant Soren government apparently has come to a cropper following the falling revenue as in the last six months of the FY 2022-23 the excise department could raise Rs 1050 crore against the target of Rs. 1300 Crore.
For instance, for the month of October the department had fixed a target to ensure a sale of Rs 440 crore from retail shops. Against this, only Rs 310 crore could be earned. There are districts like Ramgarh, Dhanbad, Garhwa, Lohardaga, Simdega, Jamtara, Palamu, Pakur, Giridih, West Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan where the sale is 36 percent less the minimum quantity fixed by the department.
The excise department has been repeatedly asking placement agencies and concerned officials to increase the volume of liquor procurement at retail shops stating that the government is not able to get ‘Minimum Guaranteed Revenue’ (MGR).
The Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL) is facing difficulty due to declining sales. The JSBCL roped in Summeet Facilities, Prime One Workforce, A to Z Infra Services Ltd, Eagle Hunter, M/s Dishita Ventures Pvt Ltd, M/s Om Sai Beverage Pvt Ltd.
There has not been sufficient stock of popular country-made and foreign liquor besides beer in the stockyard in several districts. The department slapped a fine of Rs 30 lakh against owners of 46 restaurant beer bars for their failure to procure a fixed quantity of liquor.
When the Hemant Soren government changed the policy in May this year, the department claimed the new policy had increased the revenue of Jharkhand which was made operational on May 1.
Excise Secretary Vinay Choubey claimed that despite the proper system not in place, the first month’s revenue generation was very huge. He said that it was an indication that the policy was in the right direction as the government took over the sale of liquor.
The Excise policy was twice amended in Jharkhand as it failed to deliver the desired result. Previously the liquor policy was changed in 2017 and made effective in March of the same year. But the total revenue of that month was only Rs 30 Crore and there was chaos all over the state due to the gap in the supply and the demand. Besides, there was no proper mechanism to boost the sale. In 2019, the government again changed the excise policy and withdrew from the business.
When the Hemant Soren government changed the policy it claimed that the business increased following the new policy. In May the net revenue generated was Rs 188 crore which was Rs 36 crore more.
Babulal Marandi claims liquor scam in making in Jharkhand
Former Chief Minister and BJP senior Babulal Marandi has slammed the Hemant Soren government for making junior officials as scapegoats.
“Sale of liquor is declining hence the Jharkhand government has ordered disciplinary action against district excise officers who do not achieve the target. I had said on September 30 that the present excise policy borrowed from Chhattisgarh smells of a big scam,” he said.
A petty departmental officer, who is gasping to achieve the target, is being suspended and made a scapegoat, while the whole “game” is fixed above.
He said that the action should have been taken against those big fishes who got this “work done by CSMCL of Chhattisgarh by paying five crore rupees in the name of consultancy.”
Marandi advised Chief Minister Hemant Soren to order a special audit and take action against the big fishes and explain to people who else are responsible for this scam.
Marandi said that the Hemant Soren government was neck deep in corruption and before the liquor scam explodes and engulfs the CM, he should pay attention to this.
