(a) the names of the countries from which marble has been imported into India during the last three years alongwith the objectives for which these imports have been made; and
(b) the quantum of marble in tonnes allowed for import during the above period and the quantum of marble actually imported into India?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)
(a) & (b) Import restrictions on items are being removed since the early 1990s as part of economic liberalization programme of the Government and also in terms of our International obligations. At present, all the items on which import restrictions were maintained on account of balance of payment reasons are freely importable. Accordingly, finished marble blocks/tiles, as covered under Chapter 68 of the ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import items, 2002-2007, is freely importable and does not require any license from DGFT. However, import of crude or roughly trimmed marble, as covered under Chapter 25 of the ITC (HS), which was allowed under SIL prior to 1.4.2001, has been restricted for imports from 1.4.2001. In view of this restriction, the import of crude or roughly trimmed marble covered under Exim Code number 25151100 and 251512 has declined from 61987 MT in 2000-2001 to 41967 MT in 2001-2002. Import of crude or roughly trimmed marble, as covered under Chapter 25 of the ITC (HS) was 48619 MT, 61987 MT and 41967 MT during 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-2002 respectively. Import of finished marble blocks/tiles as covered under Chapter 58 of the ITC (HS) was 1113 MT, 3317 MT and 11134 MT during 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-2002 respectively.
The names of the major countries from which marble has been imported into India during the last three years are: Egypt, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Iran, Spain, Germany, Srilanka, Oman, UAE and USA.