AJMER: Rajasthan mines industrialists' association has opposed the recent policy-proposal to hike marble import by one and half times of the existing quota alleging that it will hamper the marbel business in the state.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in its recent policy circular on July 26, sought to increase the quantity of license for import of marble blocks from 1.30 lakh tonnes to 1.95 lakh tones, an association memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje at Kishangarh yesterday said.
Rajasthan used to supply about 95 per cent marble need in the country and abroad, and if this quota was increased, two lakh families engaged in marble business in the state would suffer joblessness in near future, its spokesman Ashok Dhoot said.
Besides, to provide variety of marble to customers with the changing market scenario and increasing buying power, Indian marble processors have to buy imported marble from handful of traders at exhorbitant prices, Dhoot said.
Hence, the Centre should not give any import license to esrtwhile importers, the association demanded. It has further suggested that either the grant of license should be stopped or should be given on pro-rata basis of the turnover of all units in india processing marbles.
Indian marble industry has a turn over of Rs 2000 crore, he added.
