Dept found wanting in monitoring and implementing new licence issuing policy
Though Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar had recently doubledexcise licence fee for entertainment and party events to garner revenue for theState, ground reality shows otherwise.
Compared to the dance parties held in South Goa -- Benaulim,Colva, Chinchinim, Navelim, Cavelossim, Varca, Margao, Verna and Nagoa and inNorth Goa -- Panjim, Calangute, Anjuna, Candolim, Baga, Morjim, Arambol,Saligao etc during the peak season, the number of licences issued for theentire year was meager.
Surprisingly the total number of excise licences (238)issued in 2012 also includes birthday parties and wedding ceremonies, whichraises serious questions, as to whether the department is seriously monitoringon implementing the new policy of issuing licences.
The excise department had issued 238 occasional one day licencesin 2012, most of which were in December during the peak tourist season.
Recently the State government had hiked the occasional licencefee from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh for a crowd of above 1000 people and from Rs20,000 to Rs 50,000 for a crowd of 500 to 999 people, while the licence fee fora group of 100 to 499 persons was Rs 10,000.
The government’s decision was to garner more revenue to theState, as Goa hosts number of parties, especially in the coastal villages ofNorth and South Goa.
“Though the excise department issues licences to applicantsdepending on the head counts, we don’t have a mechanism to check whether thefee charged is accurate and that the applicant seeking the licence genuinelymentions the number of people attending the party,” Excise Commissioner, MeninoDesouza said.
There can be discrepancies, as big party organizers mostlydo not violate laws. However, small event organizers possibly violate laws,Menino told The Goan.
An event manager who did not want to be named said theeasiest way to avoid paying fees is to issue free passes to people attendingthe event and charge them for a table and chairs and liquor in the form ofcoupons, on the day of the event.
Interestingly, taluka offices of excise department in Ponda,Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari and Sanguem did not issue a single one day occasionallicence in 2012.
Salcette topped the list with 103 licences in 2012.
