Govt earns Rs. 34949.52 lakhs excise revenue: Rather
            Minister for Finance, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather has said that close vigil is being paid by checking squads of various departments for restricting the movement of narcotic items in the state, adding that enforcement activities at the Toll Post to check import and export of contraband items through the random checking of vehicles have been intensified.
            This was stated by the Minister in reply to a question by Mr. Baldev Raj Sharma in Legislative Assembly here today. He said 5 cases of export of contraband item Bhuki were detected against 7 detections in the year 2009-10. He said in Kashmir valley during the year 2011-12, the department has destroyed poppy and bhang over an area of 12359 kanals, against 4318 kanals during the year 2010-11. He said 13 persons have been arrested on charges of smuggling and selling narcotics during past two years and during current fiscal so far and necessary action under rules have been initiated against them.
            The Minister informed that the government earned excise revenue of Rs. 34949.52 lakhs during last two years and upto January this fiscal in the state. Of which, Rs. 26563.56 lakhs have been earned in Jammu division and Rs. 8385.96 lakhs in Kashmir division as excise revenue during the said period, he added.
            Mr. Rather assured that stocking and selling of liquor within 15 kms of radius in Katra shall ensured in view of the sanctity of the Mata Vaishnu Devi shrine.