By Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Feb 17: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured the delegation of liquor traders to restructure the proposed tax, which had feared to hike the price of commodity in the coastal state.

All Goa Liquor Traders’ Association President Dattaprasad Naik told reporters after meeting the chief minister that the government has also assured to exempt local brew ‘feni’ from the proposed taxes.

“With the imposition of proposed excise tax, some brands would have cost more in Goa compared to 75 per cent of other states,” Naik said.

He said that the chief minister was explained about the impact of proposed tax on the industry. “Chief minister has assured us to restructure the taxes in a way that will also help government to earn revenue and also won’t hike the price of liquor,” he stated.

Naik said that the chief minister has also assured to exempt ‘feni’ and ‘wine’ from the purview of the taxes.

Feni is brewed from cashew or coconut and is notified as heritage drink by Goa government.

Speaking further, Naik said that the state government’s proposed taxes would have increased the alcohol prices by almost eight percent in certain brands and “not upto 50 per cent as claimed in section of media.”

Sawant in the budget tabled on February 6 on the floor of the House had proposed taxes on liquor to mop up the revenue.

Several political parties including Goa Forward Party had expressed their oppose for imposition of tax on the liquor, specially Feni.

GFP has threatened to agitate against the price hike on Feni, if it is not withdrawn before Carnival festivities are over. The carnival will be celebrated in Goa from February 22 to 25.