JOIN USExcise personnel to get weapons
Excise Minister M P Renukacharya told reporters here on Saturday that the state government has earmarked ` 100 crore to provide weapons to the excise personnel to fight illicit liquor mafia and act tough on hooch brewers.
So far, the excise department has succeeded in shutting down about 1,400 hooch and illicit liquor units across the state.
An equal number of units were still active in many parts of the State.
The department personnel are directed to get closed all those units within three months. He would extend all support to the staff to end the menace, he said.
Renukacharya said he noticed loss to the exchequer owing to the illegal entry of liquor from Andhra Pradesh and Goa.
The Government was bent on plugging the leakage of revenue due to illegal entry of liquor from outside states.
He would soon hold discussions with the neighbouring governments and the concerned ministers to help stop the smuggling of liquor into Karnataka state.
The smuggling was rampant in border districts, he stated and claimed that the Mysore district was completely free from hooch and illicit liquor centres.
He said the excise personnel conducted 62,579 raids on illegal brewing centres in last one year and booked about 10,856 cases.
About 4,570 people had been arrested and seized 744 vehicles.
The personnel seized 77,163 litres of liquor and spirit worth about ` 29 lakh, the Minister added.
Revenue up
Excise Minister M P Renukacharya said the excise revenue for the year 2010 - 11 was up by 30 per cent. Against a set target of ` 7,500 crore, the excise department mobilised ` 8,314 crore for the year 2010-11. The department aims to reach a target of ` 10,000 crore excise revenue next year, the minister added.