The Arunachal Pradesh State Department of Tax, Excise and Narcotics has cancelled the license of five bonded warehouses with immediate effect from Tuesday.
These bonded warehouses are Leo Enterprises in Itanagar’s Chanranagar, Papum Pare district, Supreme Beer Bonded Warehouse and Jairampur in Changlang district, North East Spirits at Bhalukpong in West Kameng district, Five Star Beer Bonded Warehouse at Naharlagun in Papum Pare district and Subansiri Associates Beverages at Hapoli in Lower Subansiri district.
The warehouses were found to be have outstanding dues payable to the Arunachal Pradesh government and were found violating the terms and conditions of the excise license issued to them, officials of the department said in a release.
Taking serious note of the violators, Tax, Excise and Narcotics Commissioner Anirudh Singh directed all superintendents (Tax and Excise) to identify such defaulters and violators and process the cancellation of wholesale and retail licenses in all the districts as well.
He also directed the superintendents to form verification squads and check local vendors to stop the sale of illegal/spurious alcohol in the State.
Thanking the department, the Women Against Social Evils (WASE) unit of East Siang district, which has been fighting tooth and nail against drug and liquor menace in the region, termed the cancellation of licenses of violating bonded warehouses as a welcome move.
Omem Ering and Joya Tasung Moyong, president and general secretary of WASE appealed to the department concerned to take appropriate action against all the violating bonded warehouses and IMFL retailers in East Siang district too.