Punjab Excise Department says 'marked increase' in collections

Two days after several Congress MLAs sought a probe against chief secretary for alleged excise revenue loss in last three years, Punjab Excise and Taxation Department on Friday said revenue receipts have shown “marked increase” since Amarinder Singh government came to power in 2017.

It also stressed that it has t incurred any loss in financial year 2019-20, except those resulting from COVID-19 lockdown. Ten Congress legislators and one Rajya Sabha MP on Wednesday h demanded a probe against Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, blaming him for alleged excise revenue losses.

crisis was triggered by a showdown between two ministers and chief secretary at a meeting, after which Karan Avtar was relieved of ditional charge of Financial Commissioner Taxation. Contrary to speculation, Punjab excise department has t incurred any losses in FY 2019-20, except those resulting from COVID-19 related curfew, which are yet to be assessed, a government statement said here.

This was disclosed by department at a meeting with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to review situation in light of amendments to excise policy, it ded. Barring losses incurred on account of lockdown, re was loss in fiscal 2019-20, department said at review meeting.

department informed chief minister that though final figures for 2019-20 are yet to be worked out, indicative data shows that excise revenue for year was higher than that of previous fiscal. Giving details, department said revenue receipts h shown a "marked increase" since Amarinder Singh government took over in March 2017.

From Rs 4,405.72 crore in fiscal 2016-17, actual revenue received by state exchequer shot up to Rs 5,135.68 crore in 2017-18 - a 16 per cent increase in one year. re was a slight dip in excise department revenues in 2018-19 on account of quota and price reduction, as well as hike in VAT, which went up to 14 per cent, along with some changes in GST, said department officials. decrease was, however, marginal, with actual receipts reported at Rs 5,073.79 crore.

As far as 2019-20 fiscal is concerned, revenue earned by excise department currently stands at Rs 5,015 crore, it said. However, as per excise policy of 2019-20, an amount of Rs 50 crore, on account of application money, was transferred to Excise & Taxation Technical Services ncy (ETTSA).

In dition, VAT amounting to Rs 125 crore has been included, and taking same into consideration, total receipts would, in fact, stand at Rs 5,222 crore. With 'Janta curfew' imposed on March 22 followed by lockdown, all fees for 2020-21 which were to be deposited in March could t be collected. This included Rs 278 crore for renewed groups, Rs 68 crore from newly allotted groups, and ar Rs 120 crore in routine receipts, officials said.

chief minister directed department to expeditiously complete pending tasks with respect to allotment of vends, among ors, and take all steps to boost revenue. Meanwhile, 4,404 vends have opened for sale of liquor across state. Only those in containment zones have t been opened, release said.