Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 14: Excise Commissioner Tsering Angchuk today chaired a meeting of senior officers of Excise Department and reviewed revenue collections and other activities.
The Commissioner took a detailed review of over-all growth scenario of the revenue receipts for the month of September and total revenue realized till the month of September for the financial year 2016-17.
It was noticed in the meeting that the revenue realization of the department is going in upward direction viz-a-viz revenue targets fixed for the financial year 2016-17 despite hard economic conditions prevailing in the State.
Upto the month of September 2016-17, the department has realized an amount of Rs. 618.94 crore as against Rs. 557.49 crore upto the month of September, 2015-16 thus registering a growth of 11.02%.
On the front of Eradication and Enforcement activity, the Excise Commissioner appreciated the comprehensive drive launched by the Excise Department to arrest the menace of illegal smuggling of liquor, illicit distillation and other violations of the J&K Excise Act, 1958.
The enforcement teams of different ranges of the State have conducted 410 raids to arrest the menace of illegal smuggling of liquor from other States, illicit distillation of liquor and other violations. In the process arrest of 12 persons has been made and cases have been lodged in various courts against the accused persons for illegal smuggling of liquor meant for sale in other States, illicit distillation of liquor and other related offences.
About thirteen tonnes of Lahan, meant for manufacturing illicit liquor, has also been destroyed in the entire Jammu Division by the Excise sleuths who have conducted surprise raids in various areas to arrest the menace of illicit distillation.
Besides this, 2100 kg of banned polythene and 240 kg of Bhukki has also been seized at Toll Post Lakhanpur.
During the meeting, all the officers of the department were impressed upon to maintain round the clock vigil to improve revenue realization and work hard to generate revenue for the State. All the Deputy Excise Commissioners and Excise and Taxation Officers were present in the meeting.