Bengaluru: Excise Minister K. Gopalaiah said that the Department has exceeded the revenue target (Rs.22,700 crore) for this financial year despite COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Gopalaiah said that the Excise Department had set a target of Rs. 22,700 crore  for the financial year (2020-21)and the Department had already exceeded this target by Rs. 400 to Rs. 500 crore before the end of the financial year (Mar.31). Explaining the measures taken by the Department in co-operation with the Police, for checking ganja, narcotics and other banned drugs abuse, he said that the Department was committed for ending the menace of drugs and illicit liquor, taking into consideration the health and safety of the society.

Pointing out that the Excise Department was planning to set up more CL-7 and MSIL outlets across the State, Gopalaiah said that, however, they will be set up only at places where there is public demand. Maintaining that the Department has no proposal now for issuing new Liquor Licences, he said that more measures will be taken for reforming the Department. He further said that the Department was also considering manufacture of sanitisers in the wake of COVID-19 crisis. Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has responded to most of the proposals of the Department in this year’s budget, he added.

Two COVID Control Nodal Officers transferred

The Government, in a sudden move on Tuesday, transferred two IAS Officers who were serving as Nodal Officers for the control of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government, only on Mar.19, had appointed BESCOM Managing Director M.B. Rajesh Gowda as the Nodal Officer for 108 Ambulance operations meant for emergency shifting of  SARI and ILI patients to Hospitals. But on Tuesday, Rajesh Gowda was replaced by another IAS Officer R. Vinoth Priya, who was serving as Director of MSME Industries Department.

In another transfer, IAS Officer and Director of National Health Mission (NHM) Dr. Arundathi Chandrashekar, who was serving as the Special Officer for COVID-19 SOPs monitoring, has been replaced by Dr. K.N.A nuradha, who was serving as the Director of Women and Child Development  Department.