PMK youth wing leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday said State Finance Minister P.T.R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan’s admission that around 50% of the excise duty on liquor was not being paid to the State government could not be ignored and pointed out that this would mean that the number of people dying due to alcohol consumption, which was calculated based on revenue, could be much higher.
He said the issue was not something one could just gloss over and demanded the State government to clarify the steps taken to tackle it. In a statement, Dr. Anbumani said if half th excise duty from liquor sales was not being paid, then the fault lies with Tasmac and not with the private players.
“There are around 11 alcohol distilleries and seven beer breweries in Tamil Nadu. How is Tasmac allowing them to supply to stores if 50% excise duty is not being paid? If the bottles are being sold in Tasmac, who is taking home the money? If they are not being sold in Tasmac, where are they sold? Are they being sold in the black market,” he asked.
