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Chandigarh, Sep 28 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today expressed serious concern over the loss of excise revenue caused to the state due to inter-state smuggling of liquor.

The rates of excise duties were higher in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to the neighbouring states and this prompted unscrupulous elements to indulge in inter-state liquor smuggling to make a fast buck, Mr Azad said in his speech at the Northern States Chief Ministers' Conclave here.

Demanding a rational models of taxation cutting across the inter-state barriers, Mr Azad said high divergence in rates of duties made the inter-state comparison of duty structure difficult and consequently the decisions about product pricing became dificult.

''It also makes inter-state commerce cumbersome and leads to unhealthy competition amongst the states, ''he added.

UNI PS AK HT1928