Congress MLA Sofia Firdous Warns Of Protest Against Move To Shift Excise Commissioner’s Office From Cuttack

Cuttack: Congress MLA Sofia Firdous has said any move to shift the office of the Excise Commissioner from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar will be strongly opposed.

Sofia, who represents Barabati-Cuttack in Odisha Assembly, said this after making a surprise visit to the Excise Commissioner’s office located at CDA Krushak Bazaar area.

Voicing displeasure over the absence of senior officials during office hours, the legislator said several important files were found lying on the ground at different inside the office building without proper arrangement. Several documents have gathered dust due to lack of proper maintenance.

Speaking to reporters after her visit, Sofia said any attempt to shirt the office from the millennium city will be opposed. There will be protests if the state government tries to shift the Excise Commissioner’s office from Cuttack, she said.

Noting that the office building was built only around three years ago, the Congress legislator said the building needs to be maintained properly and the office must operate in a full-fledged manner in the city.

“We want the office to be in Cuttack. We have held talks with the Excise Commissioner. We will also bring the matter to the notice of the Minister,” Sofia added.

Meanwhile, Excise Commissioner Narasingha Bhol clarified that there is no proposal at present to shift the office from Cuttack.

Stating that there is a camp office in Bhubaneswar, he said the Excise Department was earlier under Revenue Department and hence the Commissioner’s office functioned from the Board of Revenue building.

While the flying squad office was shifted two years back following directions, laboratory and godown were shifted to Bhubaneswar due to lack of space in Cuttack, the Excise Commissioner added.