Stern measures to check illicit liquor sale: Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 19. The Minister for Finance and Excise, Mr. K. Sankaranarayanan, told the Assembly on Thursday that the Government would take strong steps to check the sale of illicit liquor.

Replying to the debate on the Motion regarding Demands for Grants on Account, the Minister said that the officials had been told to take strong steps, and not lend their ears to anyone trying to influence them.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan said that he had provided Rs. 31.5 crores in the budget for implementation of the Maitri Housing Scheme by the Kerala State Housing Board.

Referring to the criticism about the Government going for

a vote on account for the second quarter of the financial year, he said that the full demands could be adopted any time within the next four months. However, it would not be possible to do so within the next 10 days.

He said that the CPI(M) member, Mr. Thomas Isaac, had been trying to create confusion by claiming on Wednesday that an additional revenue for Rs. 500 crores from the State Beverages Corporation, mentioned by him in his speech, had not been accounted in the budget. This had been accounted under the estimates of the Revenue receipts of the Government. There could be only an estimate in this regard on the basis of expected turnover. The actuals would be known only later.

After the Minister's reply, the House passed the Motion which seeks to grant Rs. 3,890.24 crores towards defraying the charges from August to November of the current financial year. The Motion was carried for 84 votes against 39.

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Section  : Southern States
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