Liquor contractors in Sangrur owe Rs 32 cr to Excise Department

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 19

The financial year is about to end but liquor contractors are unwilling to pay dues amounting to over Rs 32 crore as part of the annual licence fee to the Excise Department in Sangrur.

Sources in the department said this year that the total annual licence fee of liquor vends, including a special fee for fixed quota of liquor, is Rs 203 crore from various groups of liquor vends in the district.

However, to date, the authorities have succeeded in recovering Rs 171 crore. The remaining amount is still outstanding.

Sources said in Sangrur district, the Excise Department has divided Sangrur in 21 groups — Sangrur, Sunam, Ghabdan, Ghasiwal, Hamirgarh, Khanauri, Kohrian, Mandvi, Longowal, Cheema, Dhura, Sheron, Ghanauri Kalan, Bajwa, Kuthala, Hathan, Bhogiwal, Kup Kalan, Sandhaur, Sular Gharat and Lasoi and each group has its fixed annual fee and special fee.

Some contractors said the demonetisation has delayed their recovery as after the government pulled back Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from market, a majority of the small liquor vendors had delayed their payments. Some, having various issues with the Excise Department authorities, also knocked the doors of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and are awaiting the final decision over fee deposit.

“After demonetisation, we are not getting our money from owners of small vends so how can we pay to the Excise Department?” questioned a contractor.

Sangrur group is at the top with the total dues of Rs 6 crore while Sunam is second with Rs 4 crore dues.

When contacted, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commission, Sangrur, RK Malhotra said they were trying to recover the amount from contractors.