Bhubaneswar: The state's excise revenue has increased by almost 20 times compared to the revenue it had generated in 2000-2001 when the BJD government came into power.

Replying to a question of BJP MLA Dillip Ray, state's excise minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said: "In 2000-2001, the state revenue from excise sector was just Rs 135.l3 crore. It has leapfrogged to Rs 2786.23 crores by 2016-17 ."

Behera said: "We had set a target of collecting Rs 3,600 crore from excise during the 2017-18 financial year. So far, we have mopped up Rs 3,211.03 crore. In 2018-19, we aim to collect Rs 3,800 crore as revenue from the excise sector."

Official figures show that revenue collection suddenly increased after 2010.

"We will achieve the ambitious target of collecting Rs 3,800 crore as the state is going to head for a general election soon. The sale of liquor increases during an election year and we will make most of it. We will also ensure that there is no pilferage of taxes," said a senior state government official. At present, the state has 4,303 sanctioned excise shops. While there are 1,157 India-made foreign liquor "OFF" shops, there are 531 "On" shops. The state also has 101 beer parlour "On" shops, 36 military canteens, 18 club "On" shops, 242 country spirit shops, 551 out still shops, 126 bhang shops, 85 tari shops and nine pachwai shops.

Earlier, the state government had made it clear that it would not allow prohibition as that would hit the state's economy badly which is already passing through a critical phase due to closure of a number of mines. Another official said: "We had experienced the impact of prohibition of liquor during Biju Patnaik's regime. Illicit liquor had then taken the place of legal liquor. The state had also suffered huge revenue losses."

Houses gutted

Four thatched houses were gutted in an outbreak of fire in Korua village in Kendrapara district. It is suspected that the fire occurred due to electrical short-circuit. The block and tehsil officials extended fiscal assistance to the affected families from District Red Cross Society Grants.