Excise department proposes new liquor licenses to cap fiscal deficit

As the state's fiscal deficit is expected to cross ₹2 lakh crore, thanks to the many populist schemes launched by the Mahayuti government ahead of the Assembly elections, the state government has started pulling out all stops to mobilise resources to cap the shortfall.

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI:

For that purpose, on Tuesday, the excise department pitched the idea of issuing new liquor licences, allowing sale of wine in beer shops and departmental stores, and taking joint action with police against illicit liquor dens, while the finance department pitched a three-dimension plan of focusing on excise, transport and value added tax on diesel and petrol, to bolster revenue generation.

Soon after the swearing-in on December 5, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the finance and excise portfolios, had asked the departments to come up with ways to increase revenue. In response the finance department made presentation on Tuesday with the three-fold plan.