Chandigarh (Media bureau) Faced with huge revenue deficit due to Corona virus and prolonged lockdown in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday approved the imposition of Covid Cess on liquor from June 1. This decision would generate additional revenue of Rs. 145 crore to the state during the current financial year.The Chief Minister while accepting the recommendations of the group of ministers said that the state had incurred a revenue loss of Rs. 26000 crore which was 30% of the total budget revenue estimates for the year 2020-21 due to which some drastic measures were required to generate additional revenue. A group of ministers was constituted on May 12 to assess the imposition of excise duty and additional excise duty on liquor during the current financial year.Instructing the Excise and Taxation Department, the Chief Minister said that the entire amount of additional revenue to be collected would be spent on the works related to Kovid. This cess will be levied on L-1 / L-13 (wholesale license) during the current year by issuing liquor transportation permits.
