Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma said the Excise Department had registered a “significant increase” in revenue, with collections rising from around Rs 170-180 crore eight years ago to more than Rs 500 crore at present.“With further reforms underway, we are confident of unlocking its potential to cross Rs 1,000 crore in revenue in the years to come,” CM, who also holds the finance portfolio, said.He was speaking after inaugurating a permanent building of the excise department at Lower Lachaumiere locality in the city on Saturday.“The revenue generated by the excise department helps fund schools, hospitals and social welfare programmes, ultimately helping us educate children and save lives,” he said. He added that the revenue also supported welfare initiatives, including the safe motherhood programme.Expressing satisfaction over the opening of the permanent building of the excise department, which had been functioning from temporary structures for over 50 years, CM said the department has been contributing significantly to the state’s revenue.The new building was part of a broader infrastructure improvement initiative, he said. Sangma highlighted similar improvements in schools, police stations and outposts, block offices, primary and community health centres, and health sub-centres, particularly in remote rural areas.“A major decision has been made to combine the excise and VAT, which is expected to further increase revenue. The cabinet recently approved the folding of VAT on alcoholic liquor into the excise duty regime, by amending Section 44 and Schedule V of the Meghalaya Value Added Tax Act,” CM said.Sangma said govt was focusing on sustainable reforms that would not disrupt the existing ecosystem and would safeguard the interests of all stakeholders.The new building will house a laboratory, the enforcement wing, the integrated excise management system and the office of excise commissioner, all under a common roof.The single-campus facility is expected to improve services for licensees and citizens, who previously had to visit different locations for related transactions.
