Putting an end to the ongoing deficit discussions in the state, the Punjab Excise Department has claimed that it did not incur any deficit during the financial year 2019-20. The curfew/lockdown caused by Covid-19 alone has resulted in some financial loss, which is yet to be estimated.
On Friday, this information was given by the Excise Department in a meeting with Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to review the situation arising in view of the amendments made in the new Excise Policy. Meanwhile, on Friday, 4404 contracts run by 589 groups have been opened in all the areas except for the liquor contracts in the state's contention-red zone.
In the review meeting on behalf of the Excise Department, it was told that apart from the loss due to the lockdown/curfew applicable due to COVID epidemic, the department did not incur any financial loss during 2019-20. Instructions were given to the department on behalf of the Chief Minister that the remaining works in relation to the auction of contracts should be expedited. The Captain also said that every possible effort should be made to increase income. He also asked the department to review the financial recoveries every Friday to timely ascertain the ground reality of the situation arising out of the lockdown.
