Reviewing the performance of the two revenue generating departments, the Revenue and Commercial taxes, chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao asked officials to chalk out a comprehensive excise policy and to strengthen vigil at border check posts here Friday.
Analysing the steps to formulate a new excise policy, Rao stressed on the need for a corruption-free policy that leaves no loopholes for irregularities.
As part of the new excise policy, which will come into force from October, the excise department will raise nurseries of date palm trees and ensure plantation of five crore date palm trees across the State. Two forest officials will be deputed to excise wing to over see the plantation of date palm trees.
The new excise policy will focus more on the welfare of the people that generating more income.
Rao directed officials to curb the production and sale of Gudumba completely in the state.
“Though the state government is spending Rs 28,000 crore on welfare schemes, the people are not safe due to the consumption of Gudumba. The new excise policy should ensure that Gudumba is not manufactured and consumed in the state,” the CM said.
“The people who work hard will consume a little bit of liquor to relax. For such people, the liquor which is not harmful to the health and life should be made available,” Rao suggested.
The chief minister directed officials to check smuggling of liquor from other states into Telangana. For effective implementation of Excise policy, he suggested that Excise and Police departments should work together. “The government will soon give clarity on how to work together from mandal level officer to Commissioner,” Rao said.
The state government is also planning to make pure toddy available to the people by planting five crore date palm trees on the banks of irrigation tanks in the state.
The Excise department will raise the nurseries of date palm trees. For this, the State government will depute two divisional forest officers (DFOs) to the Excise department.
‘Strengthen Dept of Commercial Taxes’
KCR said the State government would initiate steps to strengthen the Commercial Taxes department. “We need to take revolutionary measures to increase the revenues through Commercial Taxes,” Rao opined.
For this the 14 inter-state border check-posts should function more effectively. He directed the officials to encourage voluntary tax payment culture among the people. “The vacancies in the Commercial Taxes department will be filled up soon. Police security will be provided to the Commercial Tax officials,” he added.
Source: The New Indian Express