Jammu, Nov 20: Exhorting officials of Excise department to work round the corner in eradicating menace of cultivation of narcotic plants in Jammu and Kashmir, finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather on Tuesday emphasized the need for enhanced enforcement activities by the department, saying that the officers should conduct regular raids in their area of jurisdiction for the purpose.
 Rather complimented the officers for realizing revenue of Rs. 520.63 crore upto ending first seven months of the current fiscal, which was Rs. 60.34 crore excess over the previous year’s collection upto Rs. 460.26 crore.
 He urged for checking any attempt towards evasion of Excise & Toll revenue, adding that officers should redouble their efforts to eradicate menace of illicit liquor, bootlegging and illegal cultivation of Narcotic plants like Bhang and Poppy.
 He was informed that as per orders, the department has started affixation of security Hologram on liquor bottles w.e.f 23rdJuly, 2012 to put check on smuggled/illicit liquor, if any, in the market.
 The Excise Holograms are being affixed by local Distilleries and Bottling Plants on production of liquor as well as on liquor imported into the state from 23rd July, 2012. The Hologram has 14 overt and covert features and is considered as one of the best Holograms in the country.
 While making power point presentation about the enforcement activities of the department, the Excise Commissioner Vineeta Gupta, informed that 107 persons were arrested in 2009 raids and 37249 kgs of Lahan destroyed upto October, 2012 with a penalty of Rs. 18.15 lakhs recovered from the offenders.
 She said that upto ending October, this fiscal, a fine of Rs. 13.52 lakhs has been collected from tax evaders at toll plaza Lakhanpur besides seizure of 6470 pcs of willow clefts, 4000 bottles of corex and 70 gms of opium.
 While in Kashmir valley, Bhang over an area of about 4658 kanals of land was destroyed which is also unprecedented.
 The Financial Commissioner, Finance, M. I. Khanday, Deputy Excise Commissioners and other concerned officers of the department attended the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST