Excise dept still doing well – Dy. CM

Imphal, Feb 14: Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar, who is also in charge of Excise department today said that the excise department of the state government is doing good but public fails to notice it as they do not have the habit of exposing to public through media to whatever they do.
This was stated while clarifying to cut motion raised by MLA K. Meghachandra while passing the demand for grant of Rs. 17,77,35,000/- for the state Excise department .
“This year revenue collected by Excise department is Rs. 7.74 crore and amount collected as penalty is Rs. 31 lakhs”, Y. Joykumar said.
Earlier, MLA Meghachandra said that even though there is a prohibition act to the selling of liquors everybody knows that it is available abundantly in every part of the state. He said these liquors sold illegally are often seized and destroyed by the civil society bodies which are suppose to be done by the authority of the excise department. Meghachandra also informed the house about the large number illegal liquors being smuggled out of the canteen at 1st MR and 2nd MR. He said when the civil society organisation could seized and destroyed so many illegal liquors what is the authority of Excise department doing? What is the use of paying salary to them. He also recounted the victims of liquors as these liquors consumed by the people could not be check by the food safety department as it is covered by an prohibition act.