Question : PURCHASE OF RUBBER BY TYRE MANUFACTURERS

(

(a) whether the Government are aware that tyre manufacturing companies are not purchasing rubber from the rubber growers at the minimum price fixed by the Government; (

(b) if so, whether rubber growers are facing a lot of difficulties as a result thereof; (

(c) if so, whether the Government have taken or propose to take any effective steps in this direction; (

(d) if so, the details thereof; (

(e) whether the Kerala Government has also submitted any request to the Union Government in this regard; (

(f) if so, the details thereof;

( g ) whether the Government have asked the STC to procure rubber from rubber growers at the fixed floor prices; and

( h ) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )

(a) to (h) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (h) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 23.11.2001 REGARDING PURCHASE OF RUBBER BY TYRE MANUFACTURERS:


(a) to (d) : No Sir. Initially after the Minimum Price for Natural Rubber was notified on 12/9/2001, it was reported that tyre manufacturing companies had some misapprehensions about the minimum price fixed for trading in RSS-4 and 5 and there was some disruption in the transactions of these two grades. However, after discussions with tyre manufacturing companies, traders and dealers, misapprehensions have been resolved and the market has settled and normal trading of Natural Rubber is taking place now.

(e) & (f) : Yes, Sir. Government of Kerala has also brought to the notice of the Govt. of India that in spite of minimum price for Natural Rubber having been notified, tyre manufacturers have abstained from the market. The State Government have requested that Government of India should ensure that rubber cultivators are able to dispose their rubber at the notified price.

(g) No, Sir.

(h) Does not arise.