Cut silk import duty

BANGALORE: In an attempt to attract the attention of the Union Government to various issues related to sericulturists, a delegation of the Sunkarahita Reshme Amadu Virodhi Akhila Bharatha Samiti, will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh soon. Leader of the organisation G C Bayya Reddy said, “Due to reduction in the import duty from 31 per cent to 5 per cent, the cost of 1 kg of silk cocoons has dropped to `199.65 from `312.23 within a year. This leads to a loss of `115 per kg.”