The Cement Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has requested that the finance minister continue with the specific duty for the cement industry in the transition phase to the VAT regime, instead of charging the industry ad valorem. The specific duty currently is to the tune of Rs 350 per tonne.
Speaking to Business Standard, CMAI secretary general R Parthasarthy stated that the association has also urged the finance minister to facilitate support for exports and raise protective tariff for the industry in the post-QR phase in its pre-budget memorandum. Parthasarthy said this was necessary since internationally the cement industry has registerd a downslide in demand. The domestic situation is also bad with sluggish demand and excess capacity.
The pre-budget memorandum argues that the specific duty rate for the cement industry