Bhubaneswar: Of late. it is has come to light that the Odisha State Beverage Corporation Limited (OSBCL) officials are using the manual system instead of automation process developed by the National Informatics Corporation (NIC) to regulate liquor distribution in Odisha which is causing huge revenue loss to the State exchequer.
Reliable sources said that the State is losing more than Rs 500 crore excise duty due to the use of manual process. The OSBCL officials including the COO and Chief General Manager Manas Swain and his coterie under the direct patronage of Excise Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani in the process are benefitted by crores of rupees , which would been otherwise accrued to the State exchequer.
In the automation process, the supplier should have provided the indent as per the requirement of liquor in different areas. But the OSBCL depo in-charges under the manual process are dictating terms to companies and controlling the supply by saying that there is no space in the godowns. Then they send the files to the CEO who negotiates with the companies and allows them to supply the stocks in exchange for huge bribes.
To make the matters worse, the entire distribution process in not full automated which is allowing the OSBCL officials to manipulate the procurement and distribution of liquor in the State to collect massive bribes.
The repeated proposals by the liquor companies to hike prices is not being allowed. If the prices would have been increased the State Government would got more revenue.
The State government had formed a pricing committee and formulated a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate liquor prices. As per norms the file should be sent to the Minister for approvals. But the file is sent to the Excise Secretary , who is not allowing the prices to be hiked.
It is no surprise that this is being done only for the benefit of these corrupt officials.
Under the automation process, the supply and stocks at the OSBCL depos can be easily checked. But manually that is being manipulated.
So, a high level committee should be formed and the probe report should be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, Excise Minister and Chief Secretary how the liquor revenue is going down the drain due to the long serving Excise Secretary and the OSBCL COO and CGM.