Centre's decision on rubber import duty not justified: KM Mani

Kerala Congress (M) chairman KM Mani has said that the decision of the ministry of commerce to modify the import duty for rubber could not be justified.Inaugurating Rubber Board Technical Guild, an organisation affiliated to Kerala Congress, and works for the welfare of technical employees of Rubber Board yesterday, Mani said the Centre earlier imposed import duty of 40% has reduced to 13% which should be reexamined.The former minister said the price of rubber will come down if the centre imports one lakh tonne of rubber through this duty structure.Mani reiterated his demand that the import cess for natural rubber be put back at 20% and thus save the interests of lakhs of growers in the country.He assured that all efforts would be made to raise the status of Rubber Research Institute of India on par with Indian Council for Scientific Research.He urged the Centre to revise the payscale and perks of employees of Rubber Research Institute of India at the earliest.