THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REGARDING PART (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.53 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2004
Steel scrap is being imported by the Indian Steel User Industry as a raw material. Since there is a huge domestic
shortage of scrap, the Steel Industry imports large quantities of scrap to meet the requirements. Recently certain
cases have come to the notice of the Government wherein import of scrap containing live shells have occurred thereby
causing blasts and consequently loss of human life. These imports of live shells etc. are in violation of the
Foreign Trade Policy and the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act, 1992. After a series of Inter-Ministerial
consultations the Government has laid down certain new guidelines and procedures for import of metallic scrap and waste.
According to these procedures import of all kinds of metallic scrap and waste in unshredded, compressed or loose form
will be accompanied by a pre-inspection certificate to the effect that the imported consignment does not contain
any ammunition, or other explosive material or radio-active material irrespective of the source of such imports.
Such imports will also be subject to 100% examination.
The details of quantity of steel scrap imported into the country during the last three years, year-wise and
country-wise is available in the Publication `Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade of India, Vol. II (Imports) - Annual
Number` published by Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics which is available in the Parliament
Library. Details of live shells recovered from the scrap during the last one year is not compiled by the Department
of Commerce. As regards action taken against those found guilty of violation of the import policy, a show cause
notice has been issued to M/s. Bhushan Steel, Ghaziabad.
