Union Budget 2012-13: Cement companies seek uniform duties

NEW DELHI: Cement manufactures have asked the government to rationalize excise duty from 10% to 6-8% in the Union Budget 2012. Cement Manufacturers' Association (CMA), the apex body of cement manufacturers in India has asked the government to encourage cement industry and bring it at par with other core and infrastructure industries.

Cement makers have also requested the government to bring to an end the existing anomaly, where duty on import of inputs is higher than on finished product.

ASSOCHAM has demanded that benefits of section 80-IA of the Act should also be extended to Cement Industry.

FIICI said that there is surplus capacity of cement in the country and cement market is on bearish trend therefore excise duty rate should be reduced for the growth of cement industry.

FIICI has demanded that cement be categorized as "Declared Goods" under Section 14 of Central Sales Tax Act so that it is put on an equal footing with other core sector goods.

CMA has requested the goverment to provide a level playing field by levying basic customs duty on cement imports into India.

Alternatively, it has also asked import duties on goods required for manufacture of cement be abolished and freely allowed without levy of duty.