GUWAHATI: There are reports circulating in local publications regarding alleged targets set by the excise department for liquor shops. The Excise Commissioner of Assam, Jitu Doley, has dismissed these claims, citing misunderstanding.
These reports emerged following the minutes of a video conference meeting involving all excise officials, chaired by the Excise Commissioner. According to the meeting's minutes, concerns were raised over negative retail lifting across all districts when comparing April 2024 to April 2023.
It was noted that the Commissioner of Excise directed district superintendents to establish lifting targets for individual retail licensees and ensure monthly compliance.
However, Commissioner Doley clarified that while revenue targets are common across departments, setting targets for liquor shops would not work, as the department cannot influence liquor consumption.
He referred to the department's focus on preventing the sale of illegal liquor, especially from neighboring states like Arunachal Pradesh.
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Addressing concerns over fluctuating sales, Doley highlighted the need for monitoring to detect the influx of spurious liquor.
He said that while officials would intensify monitoring efforts, no explicit targets would be set for liquor shops.
Kamrup (Metro) Excise Superintendent Debajit Nath echoed Doley, affirming that no targets had been set for liquor shops under his jurisdiction, further emphasising the impracticality of such measures.