GUWAHATI:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 2 directed officials of the state excise department to set up temporary checkpoints along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border to keep a check on illegal entry of liquor made in the neighbouring state.
The smuggling of liquor from neighbouring states, especially Arunachal Pradesh has been a major concern for the state excise department for the last couple of years.
In 2021, the state government has amended the Assam Excise Act to minimise the leakage of government revenue at the manufactory and distillery level, electronic devices like Mass Flow meters, Radar Based Level transmitters, sensor-based electronic Bottle counters and Programmable Logic Controllers at Manufactory and distillery.
To stop the smuggling of liquor from neighbouring states especially Arunachal Pradesh, the Transit Pass system was introduced last year. The retail sale limit has been increased for Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and Country Liquor from 9 Bulk Litre to 18 BL. Rectified/denatured spirit from 4.5 BL to 9 BL.
Chairing a review meeting on a range of issues with senior officials of the department of excise, Sarma also asked the senior officials to fill up vacancies in grade-3 and grade-4 categories, so that the department functions with full capacity and efficiency. He also urged the officials present to carry out their official duties with transparency and honesty.
The chief minister further assured them of all assistance from the government in mitigating their genuine grievances related to work and duties.
State excise minister Parimal Shuklabadya, principal secretary to chief minister Samir Kumar Sinha, along with a host of other senior officials, was present at the meeting.