Haryana Cabinet approves excise policy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

The Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here today approved the Excise Policy for 2021-22.

The overall collection from excise in financial year 2020-21 is Rs 6,792 crore against the collection of Rs 6,361 crore in financial year 2019-20. Despite complete lockdown till the first week of May 2020 and overall economic slowdown for major part of year 2020-21, excise revenue during 2020-21 has witnessed a growth of 6.69 per cent. Since, the period of allotment of retail vends for 2020-21 will come to an end on May 19, the growth in excise revenue for policy year 2020-21 is likely to reach 15 per cent.

The duration of Excise Policy for 2021-22 will be from May 20, 2021 to May 19, 2022. Liquor vends will be allotted for a period of one year (365 days).

The government has decided to discontinue/ abolish Covid cess on the sale of liquor in next policy (2021-22). Covid cess was imposed in 2020-21 for generating additional revenue in view of the Covid pandemic.

Another important feature of the policy is that the existing licencees of zones of country liquor (CL) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) vends for the year 2020-21 are offered an option to get their licences renewed for policy year 2021-22 (i.e. May 20, 2021 to May 19, 2022).

The licences of zones of CL and IMFL vend will be renewed at an increase of 10 per cent over and above the ‘Base Licence Fee/proportionate licence fee as the case may be’ for the year 2020-21. For remaining zones that are not renewed, bids will be invited.

In case, sufficient number of applications for renewal of zones of CL (L-14A) and IMFL (L-2) vends from the existing licencees of 2020-21 are not received, the competent authority may invites e-bid/e-tender for all the zones of vends.

During policy year 2021-22, the quota of IMFL has been increased from 550 lakh proof litre (PL) to 625 lakh PL. The enhanced quota of IMFL will be added proportionately in the basic quota of all the zones of liquor vends. The quota of country liquor has been kept same.