Uttar Pradesh Excise department is in high spirits as the state has reported a revenue growth of 16 per cent during the first six months of the current 2022-23 fiscal.

This has been due to an increased demand for liquor and stronger enforcement against illicit liquor and smuggling from the neighbouring states.

According to a review carried out by the department, revenue collection has been Rs 18,562 crore from April 1 to September 30 this year as against Rs 16,025 crore in the corresponding period last year –a rise of Rs 2,537 crore.

The controversy over the Delhi excise policy and lack of availability of preferred brands in the national capital also created an opportunity for the UP-National Capital Region districts (Noida, Ghaziabad, and Meerut).

Additional Chief Secretary (Excise) Sanjay R Bhoosreddy said, “Our team is working according to the action plan that has been finalised for this financial year. We have also taken steps to improve the ease of doing business and hence more brands are available in the state.”

Lucknow has been the highest money earner for the department while Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Kanpur Nagar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and Bareilly have also been at the forefront. Districts like Kushinagar, Shahjahanpur, Sonbhadra, Deoria, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi and Chitrakoot have also reported higher revenue.

The official said that six distilleries had been set up this year and seven more would be ready by the end of this financial year. He said while the demand for beer went up by 40 per cent due to intense heat, the department was banking on the sale of rum and whisky in the coming months.

Excise Commissioner Senthil C Pandian said, “An increase of Rs 2,537 crore has been ensured for the state exchequer. We have identified some districts where sales have been low and are ascertaining the reason for the drop.”

Office-bearers of the Liquor Traders’ Association of UP, however, said some new measures implemented by the department had resulted in low business in the backward districts.

“The department has introduced a point of sale machine for entry of the liquor stock supplied to the retail stores. In places where power disruptions are frequent and internet bandwidth is poor, retailers are struggling to do business,” said a member of the association.

Officials said technology interventions aimed at increasing transparency and streamlining the business had resulted in some teething troubles, but in the long term, the revenue of the state would increase further.