DC holds meeting, stresses effective implementation of excise laws

A district-level coordination committee meeting was convened in Chamba on Friday, focusing on the effective implementation of the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011, and its associated regulations. Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal presided over the meeting.

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The meeting reviewed the progress made since the previous session and emphasised the need to trace cases related to illicit liquor and raw spirit production to ensure their complete eradication. He instructed all attending officials to enhance awareness efforts, particularly by organising special awareness campaigns in schools and colleges. Furthermore, he directed the departments concerned to establish better coordination to implement effective measures against illegal activities.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav was present as a special attendee. Providing an update, Excise and Taxation Officer Nutan Mahajan informed the committee that, since December 2024, the Excise Department had seized 304.175 litres of country-made and foreign liquor, along with 2,392 litres of raw spirit (lahan). Notably, around 2,000 litres were confiscated from the Kolka area and 380 litres from the Tissa region.

She said that no individuals were found at the sites during the raids, and the seized raw spirit was immediately destroyed to prevent any untoward incidents. Additionally, in a joint operation with the police department on January 9, 20 cases of country-made liquor were confiscated in Tunnuhatti.

To raise awareness about the issue, the department has also organised camps in various schools across the district.

The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra, tehsildar Dixit Rana, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax and Excise Rahul Kashyap, District Programme Officer for Health Dr Harit Puri, District Drug Inspector Lovely Thakur, and OSD (elementary education) Umakant Anand. — OC