Question : PRODUCTION OF PAPERS

(a) whether the import of newsprint and other papers is increasing while the indigenous production is falling;

(b) if so, the extent to which the news print and other papers imported during the last three years vis-à-vis their indigenous production;

(c) whether the production capacity of the Indian paper mill have fallen during the last three years;

(d) if so, the reasons for increase in the import and decline in the production alongwith the extent to which the exorbitant duty being charged on the imported raw material is responsible for it in comparisons with the final product; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to help the domestic paper industry?

THE MINSTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (DR. RAMAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) : No, Sir. The production and import of Paper & Paper board and newsprint during the last three years are as under:-

(In Lakh MT)
Year	Paper & Paper Board	Newsprint	Production	Import	Production Import
1996-97	27.69	1.82	3.00	5.47
1997-98	28.22	3.05	4.00	4.98
1998-99	31.38	2.71	5.25	4.27