Govt creates Corpus Fund to support de-addiction, promote road safety

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: For the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Government has created a Corpus Fund under the Excise Policy in order to support de-addiction centers and measures to reduce the incidence of drunken driving besides promoting road safety. Moreover, under the new policy no retail licenses would be issued.
Revealing the broad contours of the new Excise Policy, which has come into force from today, Excise Commissioner, T Angchok told EXCELSIOR that new policy has been formulated keeping in view health and safety concerns as well as socio-economic repercussions of consuming liquor.
“While protecting the choice of the consumers, we have laid required emphasis on responsible drinking so that consuming of liquor doesn’t become reason for public nuisance”, he further said, adding “adequate measures have been prescribed under the new policy to check illegal distillation and to promote local industry”.
He disclosed that import duty on raw material including molasses except by the units engaged in the manufacture of poultry and animal feed to be used by them for manufacture of such feed has been waived off to promote local industry. “We have rationalized the duty structure and enhanced rates proportionately depending on quantum of sale”, Mr Angchok added.
The Excise Commissioner said that while present policy of issuing licenses for wholesale trade would continue, no licenses would be issued for retail till the final disposal of the case pending in the High Court. “The sub-vends would be permitted in accordance with the provisions of the J&K Excise Act, 1958 and the J&K Liquor License and Sale Rules, 1984”, he further said.
However, the applications pertaining to uncovered areas as defined by the department will be considered on case to case basis on merit and in accordance with the procedure to be issued by the department separately, the Excise Commissioner said.
Stating that there will be a ban on import of economy brands into the State as notified by the Excise Department, Mr Angchok said, “an already issued licensee will be allowed to import liquor from any of its own distilleries or the distillers with which it has a valid agreement to produce or bottle liquor on its behalf located outside the State subject to the condition that license fee of Rs 3 lakh in full is paid for each source”.
In order to safeguard against spurious, adulterated liquor as well as smuggled liquor, the manufacturers shall continue to affix security hologram approved by the Excise Department. “Penalties for violation will be same as envisaged under J&K Excise Act and the Rules”, he added.
“For the first time in the history of J&K, Excise Department will create a Corpus Fund to be used for the support to De-Addiction Centers, measures to reduce the incidence of drunken driving, promoting road safety and other similar purposes to be decided by the department”, Excise Commissioner said, adding “the department will make an equal contribution to the contribution made by the stakeholders/ liquor industry”.

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