Summary:
The new excise policy aims to increase the excise duty received by the Delhi Government from existing Rs.
5068.7 crore to 7651 crores per annum.
This roughly raises the income of the otherwise cash-strapped Delhi government, to almost Rs.
2500 crore per annum.
.
Delhi is eagerly waiting for its new Excise Policy to be announced.
A committee formed under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, with ministers Kailash Gehlot and Satyendra Jain, have suggested some sweeping changes and if the same are adopted, the new policy could not only be beneficial for the consumer but also financially more viable for the Delhi Government’s exchequer.
But the policy is not being announced due to reasons best known to Delhi government and it`s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The term of the existing liquor vends ends on March 31, which is just over a month away.
Vend owners are also a confused lot and do not know how will they finish off with their inventory, in case they do not get reallotment of shops.
The sweeping changes suggested by the high-powered committee, suggests allocation of liquor vends through lottery system.
But the prevailing liquor syndicate of Delhi is lobbying hard to change the lottery system to e-auction of vends where they can use their money and muscle power to get maximum number of vends.
The reason behind this lobbying is amply clear.
Cheap brands, manufactured by the syndicates, are being pushed across to hapless consumers over the counters of wine shops, with much ease.