Plastics from Nepal hit local units

Stung by the cheap imports of plastic finished goods from Nepal and Bhutan, West Bengal has decided to take up the issue with the Centre, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, chief minister of West Bengal said today.

Addressing a seminar organised by Indian Plastic Federation (IPF) in Kolkata, Bhattacharya said cheap import was a serious problem. "I will take it up with the Union commerce ministry," he added.

The chief minister was responding to a demand by IPF that government could consider slapping 20 per cent sales tax on imported plastic goods. IPF complained many people were shifting their investment to Nepal and Bhutan from eastern region.

"To check the influx of vegetable ghee, a 20 per cent ST on all imports of vegetable ghee from Nepal has been imposed. We would request the same to stop the huge influx of plastic products from Nepal," Jagdish Chandra Agarwal, president of IPF, said.

"There the Indo-Nepal Treaty is in place. We want to remain friendly with neighbouring countries. But that should not hurt our industry here," Bhattacharya said.