Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has given its approval to Excise Policy for 2022-23, which envisage to collect revenue of Rs 2131 crorers during this period with an overall growth of 14 percent than the last year and likely to earn Rs 264 crores more to the state exchequer .
The Cabinet Meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also gave its approval to renew retail excise vends for the current financial year with an increase of 4 percent of their current value to enhance revenue and check smuggling from the neighboring States.
The Country Liquor brands have been made cheaper by reducing the license fee, reducing MRP of the liquor by 16 percent and relaxing the condition to supply 15 percent of the manufactured amount to retailers and giving choice to retailers to purchase the liquor from suppliers.
The Gau Vansh Vikas Nidhi cess has been enhanced from Rs 1.50 to Rs 2.50 but COVID cess has been reduced in the policy by 50 percent, bar license fee would be fixed on the basis of room capacity of the hotels, besides reducing the fee for bars in tribal areas.
Installation of CCTV cameras have been mandatory to monitor manufacturing, dispatching processes from the factory to wholesalers , retailers and vends besides making the penalty provision stringent to check irregularities in the Excise Policy .
The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up of 11 posts of Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths caused by biting of honey bees, hornet, wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) in the manual.