Agartala: The government of Tripura has earned a little over Rs 89 lakh per day on average from excise duty levied on various products in the last three years.
The total cumulative collection of the three fiscal years stands at Rs 979 crore 50 lakh, a statement of Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy reads.
According to sources in the excise department, majorthe share of the excise duty earned by the government of Tripura comes from licensed foreign liquor outlets.
Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy revealed this information in response to queries raised by CPIM MLA Sudip Sarkar and Nirmal Biswas during the Tripura Assembly session.
Breaking down the figures year by year, the statement further stated that in the fiscal year 2021-22, Rs 319 crore 60 lakh was collected, followed by Rs 368 crore 11 lakh in 2022-23, and Rs 291 crore 80 lakh in 2023-24 until December.
With a total of 120 licensed foreign liquor shops in Tripura, the government issued 44 new licenses over the past three financial years.
In addition, in the financial year 2023-24, a notable sum of Rs 34 crore 34 lakh was generated through the renewal of existing liquor licenses.
Meanwhile, the state government faces a substantial challenge in filling vacant positions across various departments.
As of January 31, 2024, there are a total of 5,642 vacant posts in five key departments: Panchayat, Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Social Welfare and Social Education, and Tribal Welfare.
The Panchayat department alone reports a total of 2,108 vacancies. Similarly, the Rural Development department operates with 907 vacant posts.
The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department is grappling with 1,702 vacant posts, while the Social Welfare and Social Education Department has 492 vacancies out of 1,596 sanctioned posts.
Additionally, the Tribal Welfare Department faces a shortage with 433 vacant positions out of 919 sanctioned posts.
Also Read | People of Tripura made Biplab Deb says Ex-CM after getting LS ticket