The Hindu Business Line : UPA committed to removing `Cenvat' duty on powerlooms

THE Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr E.V.K.S. Elangovan, today said that the constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were committed to removal of the `Cenvat' duty on weaving sector and the Union Government would initiate action to do away with the duty. But the Minister did not indicate any time frame for doing this.

Mr Elangovan, who was here on his way to Gobichettipalayam parliamentary constituency from where he was elected to the Lok Sabha in the recent polls, told newspersons that one of his priorities as Commerce Minister was to pay attention to the plantation sector, especially tea,which faced a number of issues including the complaints of the `un-remunerative' tea price to the small growers.

He said the measures needed to restore the health of the tea sector would be taken by his Ministry in consultation with Mr R. Prabhu, the former Union Minister and the newly elected member of Lok Sabha from the plantation district of Nilgiris.

On the Cauvery water dispute, Mr Elangovan said that his party and the Government were keen that the interest of the farmers of both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should be protected while attempting any solution.