Jammu: The Excise Commissioner Mohammad Javed Khan, convened a meeting to review the revenue realized by the department till the month of July in the current fiscal.
It was noticed in the meeting that the revenue realization of the Department is going in an upward direction viz-a-viz revenue targets fixed for the Department for the financial year, 2017-18 and upto the month of July, 2017-18, the department has realized an amount of Rs. 460.91 Crores as against Rs. 414.33 Crore realized in July,2016-17 thus registering a growth of 11.24%.
Excise Commissioner appreciated the efforts made by department especially by Dy. Excise Commissioner, Executive, Jammu, Dy. Excise Commissioner, Distilleries and Dy. Excise Commissioner, Toll Post Lakhanpur towards collection of Taxes/Duties for the State . The Executive Wing, Jammu registered a growth of 93.46% in revenue realization while Distilleries Wing and Toll Post Lakhanpur registered a growth of 17.22% and 9% respectively. The Excise Commissioner directed all the officers to keep the momentum in coming months also.
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 team of different ranges of the State have conducted 372 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 14persons has been made and cases have been lodged in various Courts of Law against the accused persons for illegal smuggling of liquor meant for sale in other States, illicit distillation of liquor and other related offences. About ten 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. In the process 415 bottles of illicit liquor have also been destroyed on spot.
In Kashmir Valley, the enforcement team has destroyed Bhang over an area of 1003 kanals of land during the month of July,2017. Upto July,2017 the enforcement team has already destroyed Poppy over an area of about 2863 Kanals of land. The Excise Commissioner directed for initiating mechanized destruction of Poppy and Bhang.
On the Corporate Social Responsibility front the Excise Commissioner directed for purchase of Breath Analyzers, operationalization of De-addiction centre on the lines of De-addiction centre run by J&K Police. It was also decided in the meeting for identification of Motivational Resource persons who are to be utilized for Drug Awareness Program in the colleges and schools.
Excise Commissioner exhorted the officers to go for review of their respective wings and Excise Ranges in consultation with the stakeholders. He stressed for removing the bottlenecks and impediments to the growth and their timely removal. He directed the officers to conduct frequent field visits for maintaining round the clock vigil for revenue realisation . All the Deputy Excise Commissioners and Excise and Taxation Officers were present in the meeting.
