DEHRADUN: The state cabinet on Monday fixed the excise revenue target for the next financial year at Rs 2,550 crore. For the current year, the target was Rs 2,310 crore which incidentally excise officials are struggling to achieve. According to many observers, the setting up of higher targets for the next year belies the claims made by the Trivendra Singh Rawat government that efforts would be made to reduce dependence on liquor revenue. “On one hand, the CM says he is not in favour of earning money through liquor and on the other hand, his government is not only raising revenue targets for liquor sales but also ensuring that liquor shops remain open for longer duration. This shows the farcical attitude of this government,” said Congress state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana. Finance minister Prakash Pant meanwhile termed the increase in revenue targets as “a routine exercise.” “The excise revenue targets have been increased by 15-20 % by different governments which is quite normal and should not be seen as out of the ordinary,” he said adding that in 2014-15, the excise revenue target was Rs 1,500 crore; in 2015-16, it was Rs 1,800 crore and in 2016-17, it was raised to Rs 2,100 crore.

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