Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121252210300.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Exempt wax matches from Cenvat”

SATTUR: The Sattur Chamber of Commerce and Industries has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to exempt wax matches industry from Cenvat excise duty.

In a memorandum to the Prime Minister, its general secretary, P.T.K.A. Balasubramanian, said that wax matches industry required only one HP motor to run the mechanised frame-filling unit, he said it could be treated on par with hand-made sector and totally exempted from the Cenvat duty.

Stating that manually operating the machine to get duty exemption was not possible because of lack of manpower. The industry that uses wax was instead of sticks prevented felling of trees.

Mr. Balasubramanian said that match producers were unable to run the industry due to lack of adequate manpower, he sought the exemption and give a new lease of life to the industry.