Mizoram Min clarifies on the loss of over Rs 11,808 cr through State lottery
Source: The Sangai Express

Aizawl, December 20 2016: State Finance Minister Lalsawta on Tuesday said that the state government did not lose a single amount in the lottery sale as per the agreement made with the lottery distributors.

Speaking to reporters here at a press conference, Lalsawta said as per the agreement made with distributors, the Minimum Guaranteed Revenue (MGR) to be deposited by distributors to the state government from lottery draw for 3 years- 2012-13 and 2014-2015 was Rs 25.45 crore.

The report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India said that Mizoram government lost a total of Rs 11,808.77 crore during the fiscal 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 due to non-deposit of Minimum Guaranteed Revenue(MGR)and Administrative Expenses by four lottery distributors.

The Performance Audit on Mizoram state lotteries by CAG, laid recently by state finance minister in the state assembly said that while the four lottery distributors of paper and online lotteries were to deposit Rs 11,834.22 crore obtained from the consolidated fund during the period 2012-2013 and 2014-2015, they deposited only Rs 25.45 crore.

"In violation of the rule the distributors neither deposited the balance amount of Rs 11,808.77 crore to the Consolidated Fund of the state nor was it demanded by the government," the report said, adding that state government was not only losing huge amount of revenue, but also gave undue favour to distributors.

Clarifying this, the finance minister said that lottery as of now is running in Mizoram based on Model Form of Agreement, Govt of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) accordingly which distributors do not deposit all the amount received from lottery sale but only deposited to the state government after all expenditure on lottery management like prize, printing cost and taxes to other states are paid.

He said that as per the agreement made with distributors, the Minimum Guaranteed Revenue (MGR) to be deposited by distributors to the state government from lottery draw for the period 2012-13 and 2014-2015 was Rs 25.45 crore.

Lalsawta said that depositors were not demanded to deposit all their money from lottery sale to the state government due to lack of manpower and infrastructure.

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