Date:24/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/24/stories/2005052400601000.htm

Back Allow duty-free wheat import, TN flour mills

Our Bureau

Chennai , May 23

WORRIED over rising wheat prices, roller flour mills in Tamil Nadu have urged the Union Agriculture and Food Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar, to allow duty-free import of wheat.

In a letter to Mr Pawar, the Tamil Nadu Roller Flour Mills Association President, Mr V.K. Gupta, said the situation of rising prices at the beginning of the arrival season was abnormal and it could go out of control during the festive season during November-January.

Pointing out that procurement by Food Corporation of India and the State agencies was lower by 10 lakh tonnes compared with last year, he said unusual weather had affected the grain quality.

Flour mills had been forced to look at cheaper raw material alternative such as import to keep functioning and the Centre should rescue the industry, allowing duty-free import, he said.