Marble imports to be reviewed

Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath has assured Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje that the decision on increasing marble blocks imports will be reviewed.

The assurance came during the meeting with the chief minister in Delhi on Monday.

The chief minister had registered strong protest against increase in marble import quota as induced by the Centre and sought its immediate removal to safeguard marble industry in Rajasthan.

Raje told Kamal Nath that due to the increase in import quota of marble blocks, marble industry in Rajasthan was under threat.

This provision of increasing marble import quota would benefit 20-25 units of Mumbai and Silvasa but crisis would loom large over Rajasthan marble industry.

Raje urged the Centre to enbroad licensing procedure of this policy and sought to decide certain parameters in this regard so that all licence holders could equally be benefited under this provision.

Raje said increase in marble import quota from 130,000 MT to 195,000 MT would certainly affect the interest of state adversely.

Rajasthan is the richest state in the country in regard to marble deposits both in quality and quantity. About 63 per cent of India's marble resource is available in Rajasthan and 91 percent of India's marble is produced from Rajasthan. 20 out of 32 districts in Rajasthan have marble mining and processing units.

The chief minister said that if the Centre does not decrease marble import quota, the interests of Rajasthan marble industry would be affected adversely and would be unjust.