Uttarakhand govt introduces changes in excise policy

Dehra Dun, May 3 (UNI) Uttarakhand government has brought changes in its excise policy by shifting rights for wholesale of foreign liquors directly to respective manufacturers and retailing through local licensees.

''Business was earlier done through Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Uddham Limited (UPSUL). ''However now the supply of liquors would be directly through the respective manufacturers,'' Chief Secretary S K Das told reporters here today.

All interested retailers have to submit their character certificates, solvency certificate and domicile certificate while bidding for the license. The processing fee too has been increased to Rs 10,000 from existing Rs 200.

''The route of the transportation would also be prescribed and any consignment not following the prescribed route would be considered under smuggling,'' he said.

The Minimum Retail Price (MRP) would be pegged for all foreign and country liquors to maintain uniform price all over the state.

The revenue generated in the year 2005-06 was Rs 292 crore which increased to Rs 372 crore in year 2006-07 and for the financial year 2007-08 the target has been set to Rs 417 crore, he added.

UNI