KOCHI: As part of intensifying the surveillance against illegal activities, the Excise Department will have a new range in Ernakulam district. The proposal for this has been approved by the Excise department and the new range will come up soon.

Ernakulam district with its wide area and high density of population has always been a hot spot for the trade of illicit liquor and ganja sale. Currently, there are 12 Excise ranges in the district. To put tab on the active illegal trade, the Deputy Commissioner had sent a proposal for a new range which was approved by the authorities recently. The new range will be set up in Nedumbassery under the Ernakulam Deputy Excise Commissioner. Ernakulam district comes under the Central Excise zone.

“The new range will intensify our counter activity against the illegal trade of illicit liquor and ganja. The new range will also have a circle office under it. The department is all set to intensify the action against mafia activities in the district. The new range will start functioning this year itself” said K Mohanan, Excise Deputy Commissioner.

The Excise Deputy Commissioner’s office and circle office in Kochi will also get a facelift with the coming up of a multi-storey building replacing the current dilapidated office located in Kacheripady.� As part of this, the entire unit at Kacheripady will be moved to a rented building at High Court Junction this week. The demolition of the entire structure at Kacheripady will start from next week.� A fund of `15 crore has been allotted for this purpose. The construction of the new building will be finished within two or three years.

Excise enforcement expansion to intensify action against illicit liquor and ganja trade with a new range and circle office. A new Excise range will be established at Nedumbassery under the Ernakulam Deputy Excise Commissioner to enhance surveillance and counter illegal liquor and ganja trade; it will include a circle office and is expected to begin functioning within the year. The current Deputy Commissioner's and circle offices in Kochi will be relocated to rented premises during demolition of the Kacheripady unit and replaced by a multi-storey building, for which a construction fund of 15 crore has been allocated and completion is projected in two to three years.