Thaindian News

Shimla, March 10 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh government Thursday approved the new excise policy for 2011-12. The policy aims at raising excise revenue, checking liquor smuggling, banning the use of PET liquor bottles and extending bar timings in the hotels.

“As compared to 2010-11, an additional excise revenue of Rs.171 crore will be earned in the fiscal. This means an income of Rs.720 crore against Rs.549 crore earned in the current fiscal,” Principal Secretary (Excise and Taxation) Bhim Sen told IANS here.

He said the licence fee on country-made liquor has been enhanced from Rs.113 proof litres to Rs.120, while that for IMFL (Indian made foreign liquor) was increased from Rs.157 proof litres to Rs.190.

This means price of country-made liquor will be increased by six percent and that of IMFL by 21 percent.

“The policy aims to achieve a uniform rate of levies on par with the neighbouring states to achieve reasonable price of liquor to the consumers,” Sen added.

In a step towards making the hill state plastic-free, the government has decided to do away with plastic liquor bottles from April 1 and promote glass ones.

“The new excise police has approved 100 percent bottling of liquor in glass bottles. Plastic and PET bottles have been completely banned,” he said.

Last year, the ban on PET bottles was imposed partially.

He said the aim was to reduce the use of plastic in day-to-day life.

To boost tourism in the state, the new policy has reduced the bar licence fees of the hotels and restaurants and extended their bar timings.