Excise policy gets Cabinet nod

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 28

The Cabinet today approved the excise policy for 2015-16, where retail liquor vends would not be auctioned, but old ones would be renewed with an enhancement of 13 per cent in the renewal fee.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh chaired the Cabinet meeting here today.

In a change of policy of auctioning liquor vends to be able to generate more resources, the government decided to renew the vends with an increase in the renewal fee which is expected to fetch an additional income of Rs 172 crore.

The Cabinet had discussed the excise policy at its meeting held on February 26, but finally approved it today.

The Cabinet deliberated at length on the Governor’s address for the Budget session of the Assembly commencing on March 11.

It would basically highlight the achievements of the Virbhadra regime during its over two-year rule.

The Cabinet also approved the supplementary estimates for the 2015-16 Budget which would be presented by the Chief Minister in the Assembly.

The Cabinet also approved the upgrade of nearly 80 government schools of various levels all over the state.