Manufacturers Association (SICMA) has asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to impose higher import duty for clinker and cement to India in the upcoming budget.
The association representatives met Sitharaman and indicated that the Indian manufacturers are unable to export to neighbouring countries as they have imposed antidumping duties on cement from India, while India is providing free access to imports.
The Association in its representation had cited that the region contributed to 40 per cent or 180 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of the country’s total cement capacity.
“Around 35-40 per cent of the limestone is also found in South India.
Other parts of the country like North, Central, and East India will become a deficit in cement production in a few years. Hence, we request the government to facilitate the movement of cement from the surplus Southern state to the deficit area either by providing either telescopic railway freight or some other method,” the association said in its representation.