Published: July 12, 2020 6:02:42 am
Though there has been no official word on the quantum of fall in revenue from liquor sales during the past two months, sources put it at a whopping Rs 125 crore in April alone. (Representational)
To make up for a revenue shortfall, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is contemplating the withdrawal of the 50 per cent additional excise duty imposed on liquor prices in the Union Territory
Excise Commissioner R K Shavan sought the waiver of the additional duty in a letter to Financial Commissioner Arun Kumar Mehta, sources said
“There has been drastic fall in the sale of liquor especially middle and low economy class brands and also the sales in army/para military unit canteens” during the past two months, the letter read, adding that “the 50 per cent additional excise duty has discouraged the consumers to purchase less quantity both in the open market as well as in the unit canteens”
“Figures have revealed that the quota lifted from the Army Depots across the Union Territory has declined as compared to previous period,” the Excise Commissioner wrote
Pointing out that it has been “reliably” learnt that many other states have rolled back the additional “coronavirus duty”, Shavan recommended that the…
