CM warns agency running excise shops to improve their functioning, directs to pay pending salary of employees

Ranchi: Under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Hemant Soren a detailed review of revenue collection and its implementation was done under the New Excise Policy at the project building here. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Excise Secretary, Excise Commissioner, senior officials of the department and the director of the human provider agency of retail product shops and wholesalers working under the state.

In the meeting, Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed his displeasure over the excise shop operators and said that the arrears of the workers working in the product shops should be paid without delay. The Man Power Supply Agency should ensure that the salaries of the personnel working in the retail product shops are not in arrears. 

The Chief Minister asked the excise shop operators to improve their working style within the next 15 days, otherwise, action would be ensured by the state government. The Chief Minister said that what is the reason for the decrease in excise revenue collection, its main points should be rectified as soon as possible. The annual target set for product revenue collection must be met within the next 4 months.

The Chief Minister told the officials that a new liquor policy has been formulated by the state government in Jharkhand. The objective of the new policy is to increase revenue. In view of the decrease in revenue growth, the Chief Minister reprimanded all the representatives of the human provider agency.

The Chief Minister gave strict instructions to them that they should understand their responsibility and make all meaningful efforts to get revenue as per the target. Within the next 15 days, their works will be reviewed again and if there is no proper improvement in the situation, strict punitive action will be taken against all the agencies as per the rules. The Chief Minister said that agencies, wholesalers and officials who are lax in revenue collection will not be spared.

He directed the officials that continuous monitoring of retail product shops should be done and ensure that illegal liquor is not sold in any way in government retail liquor shops. The Chief Minister said that strict action should be taken against those who make and sell spurious liquor in the state. 

The Chief Minister directed the departmental officials to take strict legal action against those involved in the illegal business of liquor. The Chief Minister asked the operators to regularly inspect the retail product shops. He said that the collusion of personnel working in retail product shops should also be investigated and target all retail product outlets. The product should be in line with the revenue collection target. Display rate list outside all retail product outlets the Chief Minister said adding that complaints of overpricing have been heard in the past and also ensure action regarding overpricing.

He directed to keep a strict vigil on the mafia and shopkeepers who manipulate the prices fixed by the illegal liquor and the government. Empower the excise control room. On receiving complaints from the general public, the department and the directors should jointly investigate the complaints and ensure action. The Chief Minister also assured all the agencies that every kind of cooperation would be provided by the state administration in any action related to revenue collection. 

The Chief Minister also directed the wholesalers to make available liquor of all desired pack sizes as per the demand, failing which punitive action would be taken against them. In the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the manpower-providing agencies to pay the pending salaries of the vendors by December 15.

He also directed the Managing Director of Jharkhand State Viberage Corporation Limited to complete technical infrastructure and installation of boom warriors in factories and CCTVs in shops at the earliest so that no point of revenue erosion remains untouched.