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Punjab: Patiala peg becomes larger, per capita liquor consumption makes great jump
Friday, March 30, 2012 - 09:15
By Naresh Kumar Sharma
CHANDIGARH: Patiala peg seems to be maintaining its taste and relish in Punjab as state has made great jump in terms of liquor consumption. The per capita consumption of liquor in Punjab has risen by 59.2% from 2.5 proof liters (PL) to 4.09 proof liters in a period of just six years between 2005 to 2011.
The consumption of liquor in the state increased from 660 lakh PL to 1,173 PL in 2011.Owing to this, Punjab is just nudging close to Kerala in terms of gulping pegs or consumption of liquor.In the state, there are over 7,000 liquor vends in the state which include Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and Punjab made liquor (PML).
Despite the consumption of liquor registering enormous increase in the state, the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report states that excise department has not
been equal to the task as far as increase in alcohol consumption is concerned as the state and could have earned more revenue than actually it managed to earn.
Though profitability of state has increased from Rs 1,568.16 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 2,373.07 crore in 2010-2011,however, CAG report says that Punjab excise department should have picked up more e revenue.
Besides this, the report also pointed out that the state government has not formulated proper norms for the production of alcohol and beer from grains due to which loss of revenue has been possible incurred. The report also highlighted certain loopholes in policies which led to revenue loss for the state.
Another important aspect emphasised in the report is about the allocation of additional quota for sale of liquor at concessional rates to the licensees was imprudent since it also resulted in eroding revenue for the government. Additional quota allotted between 2007 and 2010 resulted in a loss of Rs 22.61 crore, says the report.
The report also censured the excise department for its failure to make proper utilisation of the development funds. Out of the Rs 31.49 crore collected up to March, 2010, only Rs 5.63 crore could be utilized by the excise department, says the report.
Not only this, CAG report has also expressed his displeasure with the excise department for not transferring education cess to the education department fund.The report says that Rs 199.78 crore was collected from 2005 to 2010 as education cess but only Rs 32.99 crore was transferred during April 2008 to January 2009 to the education department fund. The remaining Rs 166.79 were not transferred to the education department.
The CAG also came down heavily on the excise department for its lack of effectiveness in regard to non-recovery of license fee, interest emphasising that the department having staff shortage and manpower needed specifically for excise-related functions.
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Punjab Newsline
Friday, March 30, 2012 - 09:15
By Naresh Kumar Sharma
CHANDIGARH: Patiala peg seems to be maintaining its taste and relish in Punjab as state has made great jump in terms of liquor consumption. The per capita consumption of liquor in Punjab has risen by 59.2% from 2.5 proof liters (PL) to 4.09 proof liters in a period of just six years between 2005 to 2011.
The consumption of liquor in the state increased from 660 lakh PL to 1,173 PL in 2011.Owing to this, Punjab is just nudging close to Kerala in terms of gulping pegs or consumption of liquor.In the state, there are over 7,000 liquor vends in the state which include Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and Punjab made liquor (PML).
Despite the consumption of liquor registering enormous increase in the state, the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) report states that excise department has not
been equal to the task as far as increase in alcohol consumption is concerned as the state and could have earned more revenue than actually it managed to earn.
Though profitability of state has increased from Rs 1,568.16 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 2,373.07 crore in 2010-2011,however, CAG report says that Punjab excise department should have picked up more e revenue.
Besides this, the report also pointed out that the state government has not formulated proper norms for the production of alcohol and beer from grains due to which loss of revenue has been possible incurred. The report also highlighted certain loopholes in policies which led to revenue loss for the state.
Another important aspect emphasised in the report is about the allocation of additional quota for sale of liquor at concessional rates to the licensees was imprudent since it also resulted in eroding revenue for the government. Additional quota allotted between 2007 and 2010 resulted in a loss of Rs 22.61 crore, says the report.
The report also censured the excise department for its failure to make proper utilisation of the development funds. Out of the Rs 31.49 crore collected up to March, 2010, only Rs 5.63 crore could be utilized by the excise department, says the report.
Not only this, CAG report has also expressed his displeasure with the excise department for not transferring education cess to the education department fund.The report says that Rs 199.78 crore was collected from 2005 to 2010 as education cess but only Rs 32.99 crore was transferred during April 2008 to January 2009 to the education department fund. The remaining Rs 166.79 were not transferred to the education department.
The CAG also came down heavily on the excise department for its lack of effectiveness in regard to non-recovery of license fee, interest emphasising that the department having staff shortage and manpower needed specifically for excise-related functions.
For more News visit
Punjab Newsline