By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 18, 2019: The Odisha government has set a target of collecting Rs 4600 crore excise revenue from sale of alcoholic beverages, Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari on Monday informed the state Assembly.

Replying to a query, Pujari said the state government had collected Rs 3925 crore towards excise revenue in 2018-19 and it has set a target of Rs 4600 crore in this fiscal ending March 2020. As per official figures, it has collected Rs 970.50 crore by this June end.

In fact, the state government had surpassed the target for the last financial year which was set at Rs 3800 crore. In the current financial year, the state government has set a target of Rs 4600 crore.

The excise department has been meeting its revenue collection target in successive years indicating a rising trend of consumption of different beverages such as India-made foreign liquor (IMFL), beer and country spirit in the state.