Puducherry launches portal to ensure fair functioning of excise dept

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has launched a website to ensure a fair, transparent and effective functioning of the excise machinery in the Union territory.
Public works minister A Namassivayam, who also holds the portfolio of excise, launched the website on Monday.
Puduvaicalal is an e-governance web-based system to monitor the excise collection and facilitate granting of the licensee with convenient payment options.It aims at reducing manual interaction with the department by introducing online services.
The liquor merchants can register or renew licences electronically and apply for permits for transportation of liquor online. The platform also helps in online verification of the genuineness of the permits issued by other states.
The launch was followed by a live demonstration to enlighten the liquor traders on the procedures to be followed to furnish sales details on the platform on a real-time basis. The portal will reduce one-to-one personal contact and ensure online retail billing and collection of excise duty and additional excise duty.
It may be recalled that the CBI has commenced a preliminary investigation into the illegal sale of liquor by IMFL, toddy and arrack shops during the lockdown period.
Police who launched a probe into the illegal sale suspended the licences of 100 IMFL, toddy and arrack shops and registered over 200 cases against the violators.
Police arrested eight government servants, including tahsildar G S Karthikeyan, revenue inspector Parthibhan Varadan, assistant sub-inspector of police Arjunan and police constable Jayaraman in connection with illegal sale of liquor. Bahour inspector Anil Kumar, Villainur sub-inspector S Nandakumar and Thirubhuvanai sub-inspector Rajasekhar were transferred to Puducherry armed police for their reported involvement in the illegal sale of liquor.