John Nicodemus, Executive Director, Asbestos Cement Products Manufacturers’ Association

The Asbestos Cement industry’s wishes from the Budget Restoration of 4% Excise duty on Asbestos Cement (AC) Roofing Sheets, Pipes and allied products For several years, asbestos cement products had enjoyed full excise duty exemption thoughtfully granted by the Government of India to encourage utilization/ consumption of pollutant fly ash (about 30%). In 2006, basic excise duty of 8% was levied on these products, which was further reduced to 4% in 2008. However, in the year 2009, the duty rate was taken back to 8% which implied that there is no distinction between usage of fly ash and no usage. Now, in the budget of 2010-11, the basic excise duty on these products has been raised to 10%. The industry feels that asbestos cement products merit encouragement and concessional duties on account of the following: ·
AC roofing sheets are basically for the poor, providing them most cost effective, yet permanent roof· The products provide employment for lakhs of people ·
AC products are energy efficient as compared to other roofing products such as steel, aluminium, PVC, GI etc.·
The industry consumes over 1.5 Million tonnes of fly ash every year nationally and can therefore be reckoned as an environment friendly industry·
The production process leaves a much smaller carbon footprint as compared to PVC, steel or aluminium sheets.