Mizoram Govt collects Rs 19.44 crore tax revenue in 8 months from liquor
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Aizawl, October 16 2015 : The Government of Mizoram has collected over Rs 19.44 crore from the sale of liquor in 8 months after the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition & Control (MLPC) Act, 2014 came into force in the state from January 16, 2015, State Excise and Narcotics Minister R Lalzirliana informed the House on Friday.

Replying to a joint question from four legislators including Dr K Beichhua and Er Lalrinawma of the Mizo Nation Front (MNF), R Lalzirliana said that over 56,631 people were issued liquor permit under the MLPC Act and there were 22 retail wine shops across five districts of the State.

In Aizawl, retail wine shop is opened in 6 places such as Dawrpui, Zarkawt, Chawlhmun, Ramhlun Venglai, Khatla and Armed Veng.

While there were 5 retail wine shops in Serchhip District, Champhai and Lunglei Districts have 3 wine shops each.

Mizoram Govt collects Rs 19.44 crore tax revenue in 8 months from liquor

Kolasib has only one wine shop at Rengtekawn, Bairabi Road end complex.

According to Lalzirliana, the total revenue collected from liquor as excise duty in 8 months (i.e from the period ending January 16, 2015 to September 31, 2015) after the enforcement of MLPC Act, 2014 was Rs 19,44,69,543.The government also received a total revenue of Rs 24,82,83,107 with subsequent issue of sale permit since March 2015. The minister told the House that while 1495 people had been disciplined or booked for violation of the MLPC Act, over 507 people have misused their permit.

Liquor permit has been issued to over 56,631 people under the Act, he added.

R Lalzirliana said as many as 18 retail wine shops were opened in five districts across the state by private company or corporations and the government did not open any wine shop.

He added that the state government did not gain any profit from the sale of liquor.

Replying to additional question from Dr K Beichhua, the excise and narcotic minister said there are at present 3 bonded ware houses in the state run by private company and no tender were invited for this purpose.

"The government is also mulling over setting up of distillery units in the state when it achieves the targeted 'grade' and has the required raw materials," he added.

The minister said that the sale or consumption of spurious liquor has decreased considerably after the implementation of the MLPC Act and the congestion at Rangvamual, a locality at the outskirt of Aizawl well known for its liquor den, has also been considerably abated.

He added that there were no report of death due to consumption of branded liquor after the MPLC Act was introduce from January this year.

"Liquor is being sold only for those drinkers who could not abstain from it and it has been reported that the weaker section of society like children and women have been not affected or disturbed but live under peaceful environment," he said.