Indian timber importers have called for rationalisation of customs duty on imported wood logs. India imports over 30 lakh tonne of wood logs every year mainly from south east Asian countries like Malaysia and Myanmar. The importers have argued that all environment-conscious nations which do not permit deforestation for timber procurement allow import at zero customs duty. "Countries like Japan, Korea, China allow timber import at zero duty for use by domestic units. The same should be followed here as Supreme Court had banned felling and movement of timber from 1996 in the north eastern states that used to generate a substantial chunk of the domestic requirement," Dinesh Chaudhary, general secretary of Bengal Timber Importers' Association, said. Import duty on timber imports was reimposed at 5 per cent in 1999-2000. Later, special additional duty of 4.2 per cent was imposed in the last budget. Importers have also drawn attention to the fact that port related charges was acting as serious impediment for import of timber at competitive rates. Port handling charges Kolkata Port, which is geographically best placed to import timber from south-east Asian countries, are much higher than any other Indian port. J P Bhartia, president of BTIA, said higher handling charges at Kolkata port compared with Kandla, Chennai and Vishakhapatanam ports, were hurting user industries. "Owing to high charges, freight from Malaysia to Kolkata works out to be $42 per cubic metre, equal to one tonne, as compared to $32 per CBM at Kandla port in Gujarat. We have urged Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) authority to reduce port charges," Bhartia said. Kolkata port handles timber imports of only 3.5 lakh tonne as against 17 lakh tonne handled at Kandla port. Kolkata Dock Labour Board (KDLB) handles the cargo in Kolkata port. Источник: BUSINESS STANDARD 08/10/2002