Several of the iron ore pellet-making units in Odisha are facing closure as exports became costlier after the Government imposed a fresh levy, an industry body said on Wednesday.
Odisha has 60 per cent of the country’s installed capacity in pellet making.
“The recent imposition of a 5 per cent export duty on pellets is like a killer blow for the pellet-making units, particularly those of Odisha,” said SK Chatterjee, Secretary, Pellet Manufacturers Association of India. “The Ministry of Commerce has reportedly taken up the issue with the Union Finance Minister (P Chidambaram) thrice in the last month, stating the imposition of the export duty on a manufactured value-added product would be detrimental to the economy. The standing committee on coal and steel in its action taken report tabled in Parliament on February 18 also echoed the similar view,” he added.