Hyderabad, Jan 16 (PTI) Industry body Assocham todayurged the Centre to impose 10 per cent customs duty on importof hardwood chemical pulp and bleached chemi-thermo mechanicalpulp (BCTMP) to encourage domestic pulp production.According to a statement by the body, the move willhelp create jobs and promote overall economic development ofthe country's vast rural hinterland housing pulpwoodplantations."These measures would help energise creation ofsustainable sources of fibre required by the Indian pulp andpaper industry," Assocham said.The statement on BCTMP was part of the industry body'spre-budget recommendations on indirect taxes submitted to theUnion government.The industry body has also sought policy measures tofacilitate private sector participation in plantationdevelopment programmes.Besides, the chamber has recommended that import ofcapital goods required by the paper and paperboard industryfor technological up-gradation, especially aimed atenvironmental protection and for compliance with the CorporateResponsibility for Environmental Protection (CREP), bepermitted at "nil" rate of customs duty.It has suggested that exports by manufactures, whohave adopted environment-friendly technology, be grantedadditional incentives such as cash incentive of 5 per cent offree on board (FOB) value.It is estimated that more than 1.25 million metrictonnes (MMT) of pulp, approximately valued at USD 710 million(about Rs 4,600 crore), is imported into India each year.Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said instead ofgenerating sizeable employment opportunities within thecountry, millions of jobs are being exported to the nationsfrom where pulp is imported.The Assocham justified customs duty exemption on import of softwood pulp, saying it cannot be grown in India and thus its requirement will have to be met through shipments from abroad.

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