Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: As the opposition charged the government over allowing subletting of liquor licenses to non-Goans, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today told House that authorities if needed, will conduct taluka wise survey to identify such cases and take action.
AAP MLA Cruz Silva had raised questions to the government over the action taken on Excise officers who were indicted in CAG Report to which CM informed the House that action has been taken in regard to findings in the CAG report.
Sawant said that the government is ready to do surveys in all Talukas to check whether anyone has transferred an excise license to non-Goans or allowing outsiders to run retail liquor shops.
He also said that as per the internal audit report, the amount has been recovered from the erring officers in the Pernem excise financial irregularity issue. However, the CM maintained that it is not a scam.
Fatorda MLA expressed alarm about the many errors made by the Excise Department, highlighting, in particular, the “flawed license systems.”
The loss indicated in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, according to CM Sawant, is just hypothetical because revenue has increased by 10.46%, refuting these claims.
He promised the MLA that steps would be taken in response to an internal audit report on the Pernem excise fraud.
The Excise department will also grant temporary excise licenses to shacks.
Benaulim MLA, Venzy Veigas, criticized the Government for not providing detailed revenue data from different liquor brands like whiskey, rum, and vodka.
“The Government was questioned if it has a mechanism to check MRP-wise and brand-wise sales in Goa,” he added.
On the other hand, LoP Yuri Alemao pointed out that despite gross irregularities found in the Excise Department, CM Sawant refuses to acknowledge it as a “scam.”
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai demanded that an Excise licence at Mopa airport should be given only to Goans. Sardesai also raised concerns over non-Goans taking over the liquor trade in Goa.
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