SHILLONG, Oct 2: Meghalaya’s excise department has set a target to generate revenue of over Rs 500 crore within the current financial year even as it is gearing up to roll out the implementation of the QR code-based tracking system for the different products to plug leakages and increase the revenue generation by 5 to 10 per cent.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the minister-in-charge of excise Kyrmen Shylla said, “Our revenue generation is increasing every year. This year our target is to generate revenue of Rs 500 crore plus. That will be our contribution to the government.”
Shylla also informed that the department is in the process of implementing the QR code-based tracking system to further improve its revenue generation. According to him, completion of the process may take two to three months’ time.
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“When it comes to holograms, time is over for them. To introduce a QR code there is a process that needs to be done. So for this, we have given them an extension as we cannot let the product go to the market without any trace and track. As of now the only trace and track we have is the hologram. We extended the period for the company, which supplies holograms but it’s just that to complete the process of introducing the QR code, we need some time. Based on that, we have extended, and it will be a matter of two-three months,” he said.
The minister further elaborated on the merits of introducing new technology and said that there would be no duplicity of products. “This is because one QR code will be for a bottle. If there is any duplicity, the onus of responsibility will be on the company concerned,” he said.
He said that the new tracking system would not give any space for illegal activities while referring to an incident, where people are trying to make unauthorised liquor and bottling it.
The minister informed that the department has not increased the rate and in fact, the present rate is quite below the rate fixed by the Assam counterpart. (NNN)
