K Chandrasekhar Rao wants imports from China curbed

Hyderabad: Stating that cheap Chinese paper, pulp and other products were hitting Indian industry, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asked Prime Minister Modi to restrict imports of heavy machinery, pulp and paper from China.

Sirpur Paper Mills in Adilabad and AP Rayon Paper in Warangal were hit by the import of cheap paper and pulp from China which has forced both the companies to shut down as their products are costlier than imported material, he said.

“The Sirpur Paper Mills management, for whom I waived Rs 6 crore pending power bills, says it is hit by Chinese paper/pulp. AP Rayon Paper Mills too faces similar problems. They sought concessions and I agreed. Our spinning mills are also hit by China which is attacking our economy,” Mr Rao said. Requesting Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya to take up the issue with Mr Modi and Union industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said he would raise the issue at the next Niti Aayog meet with the Prime Minister. “China bazaars sell products cheap. You get it cheap, but it will work only for three months. Our cotton farmers are also hit,” he added.

The CM said he was pained when top officials of Mahindra and Mahindra’s Zaheerabad unit and Shanta Biotech chief Shyam Prasad Reddy told him all the heavy machinery in the manufacturing sector were imported. “They aren’t great machines. Can’t we make them and create jobs for our people. We had HMT, but it was shut,” he said.

The CM also asked Mr Dattatreya to make use of ESIC fund to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore for workers which are kept unutilised in banks. He said the state government would set up skill building units in every district. When he asked the audience including Mr Dattatreya to raise their hands if they feel the power situation is better than last year, all raised their hands. He said there are no power cuts in the state and it will have additional 3,000 MW by March next and provide nine hour power to the farm sector.