Bhubaneswar: State excise minister Niranjan Pujhari stressed on opening of closed liquor shops and sanctioned shops for augmentation of excise revenue.
Pujhari, while reviewing the activities of excise department, told the officers to take steps to open the closed liquor shops and sanctioned shops to increase the excise revenue.
Emphasising on meeting the excise revenue target, the excise secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani also directed the officers for making the closed and sanctioned liquor shops functional.
The meeting also stressed on increasing enforcement to prevent liquor curbing illegal and spurious liquor trade. The minister directed the officials to visit the shops regularly to keep an eye on illegal and spurious liquor sales. He also suggested for a multi-disciplinary squad to crack down on illegal cannabis cultivators.
The meeting was attended by excise commissioner Anjan Kumar Manik, additional secretary Tribikram Pradhan, Odisha Beverage Corporation MD Saroj Kumar Sethi, joint secretary Saidutta Biplab Keshri Pradhan and other senior officers.
