Lucknow, 21 July (HS): Uttar Pradesh Minister of State

(Independent Charge) for Excise and Prohibition, Nitin Agarwal, has issued

strict instructions to Excise Department officials, stating that in view of the

upcoming festivals, there should be no untoward incidents of loss of life due

to alcohol. They should work in coordination with district administration and

police officials, and promptly take action on complaints of illegal liquor and

raw liquor supply wherever they arise.

Effective enforcement action should be ensured in the

districts bordering the state. Special vigilance should be exercised,

especially in the sensitive districts of Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and the

western region. Any laxity or negligence in this regard will not be tolerated.

The Excise Minister was reviewing the first quarterly

revenue progress of the Excise Department in the auditorium of the Sugarcane

Institute located in Dalibagh, Lucknow on Tuesday. He said that the Excise

Department is not only the highest revenue earning department in the state, but

in the last four and a half years, no untoward incident like loss of life due

to liquor has occurred, for which the credit goes to all the officers of the

department. Similarly, we have to work with complete sensitivity and team

spirit, so that prompt action can be taken on complaints. Strict action should

also be taken on complaints related to overrating of liquor.

The Excise Minister has directed all District Excise

Officers to pay special attention to revenue collection as per the set target.

He informed that the State Government has set a huge target of revenue

collection of Rs 71,278 crore for the financial year 2026-27. In the first

quarter (April to June) of the current financial year, revenue receipts of Rs

15,809.25 crore were achieved, which is 116.05 percent more than the revenue of

Rs 14,228.91 crore received during the same period last year. Against the

sequential target of Rs 21,800 crore from April to July 2026, revenue of Rs

18,655.23 crore has been achieved so far, which is 85.57 percent of the target

and is 100.39 percent more than the total revenue of Rs 18,583.19 crore

received from April to July 2025 last year.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi