Rubber product makers in Bengal have demanded a relaxation of the rules to permit them to import raw natural rubber from countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam through the Calcutta and Haldia ports

Members of the All India Rubber Industries Association said there was an annual shortfall of 500,000 tons of rubber which must be met by import.

Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra said the state might request the Centre to allow both the ports here to handle rubber imports.

“Only Mumbai and Chennai ports are allowed to handle imported raw rubber. There is a clear discrimination and we will ask them to ease the norms,” Mitra said.

Kamal Kishore Chowdhury, past president of the body, said only those who export rubber products are now being allowed to import raw rubber through the Calcutta and Haldia port complexes.

Rohidin Mersyah, the governor of Bengkulu province in Indonesia, was also present.

Mitra added that the rubber park at Raghudebpur near Dhulagarh, spread over 110 acres, would act as a booster for the industry and fuel the need for raw rubber. The park will have 202 units of which 40 per cent has been allotted.