Jammu, Apr 7: The Excise Department has earned Rs 596 crore revenue during the just concluded financial year which is Rs 80 crore more over the previous year.
 The department has exceeded the fixed target by Rs 19 crore during 2009-10.
 This, according to an official statement, was disclosed at meeting of the Excise Department, chaired by Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs   Abdul Rahim Rather, here today.
 Rather took a detailed review of the revenue recoveries realized during the current year. He was told that compared to previous decade the department has achieved the highest growth of 15.27% during 2009-10.
 While reviewing the enforcement activities undertaken by the department, the Minister was informed that 224 persons were arrested in 3169 raids and 91000 kgs of Lahan destroyed during the year 2009-10 thereby collecting a penalty of Rs 6 lakh from the offenders. It was noted with satisfaction that an unprecedented haul of 8600 kgs of Bhuki and 148 kgs of Cannabis was seized in the State during the year 2009-10. Besides this, Poppy/Bhang was destroyed over 13000 kanals of land in Kashmir valley against 5000 kanals during the previous year.
 While reviewing the works of the department, the Minister was informed that Rs 20 crore have already been spent on construction of new Toll Plaza at Lakhanpur upto ending March 2010 and the Ist phase of the project is likely to be completed by the JKPCC in the next couple of months. Similarly, Rs 658 lakh have been spent on the construction of new Toll Post at Nagri upto March 2010 and the project is likely to be completed by the Public Works Department, before the end of 2010-11.
 Rather expressed concern over the delay in execution of two projects and impressed upon the executing agencies to speed up the pace of work so as to reduce traffic congestion at the Toll Posts and provide much needed relief to the transporters and tourists.
 Rather complemented the officers of the Department for surpassing the revenue targets for the year 2009-10 and exhorted upon them to continue the good work during 2010-11. It is pertinent to mention that the State Cabinet had earlier appreciated the performance of Taxation Wing of the Finance Department including Excise Department for highest growth during the current year as compared to previous years in the past one decade.
 The Minister also appreciated the dedicated efforts of officers and all other officials of the Excise Department who continue to discharge their duties as expected from Government employees in public service.
 Rather exhorted upon the officers to redouble their efforts to eradicate the menace of illicit liquor, bootlegging and illegal cultivation of Narcotic plants like Bhang and Poppy and its smuggling.
 The meeting was attended by Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Excise Commissioner,   Pardeep Gupta, all the Deputy Excise Commissioners, and other senior officers.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST