Members concerned over decline in prices of natural rubber

Amid concerns raised in Rajya Sabha over decline in prices of natural rubber, government today said it has asked the Rubber Board to hold a meeting of all stake-holders to address the issue.
Replying to a Zero Hour mention by K N Balagopal (CPI-M) that the sharp decline in natural rubber prices was harming the farmers, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said, "We have given a clear instruction to the Rubber Board Chairman to hold a meeting of all stake holders and conduct weekly monitoring of prices so that intervention can be made."
He also assured the House that the matter of declining rubber prices is being discussed with the Finance Ministry and a notification for fixing the minimum price is awaited.

Earlier, Balagopal said the prices of natural rubber were coming down after the Bali convention and lamented that farmers were getting only Rs 120 per kg against the production cost of Rs 180 to 190.
Raising the issue of plight of farmers in ecologically sensitive zone of Western Ghats, P Rajeev (CPI-M) said a total of 4,156 villages have been declared as falling in the forest area on the basis of a report of Kasturi Rangan committee which was based on aerial survey.
He said as per the notification, no construction has been allowed in the zone on the plea of protecting the environment.

Terming such a notification as 'unilateral' and 'undemocratic', he said the that a delegation of Kerala MPs had met the Prime Minister in this connection but to no avail.
He demanded that such a notification should be immediately withdrawn as it had been issued without any consultation with the people of the area.
Supporting the issue, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said it is a matter of great concern for the farmers of Kerala and the government should take note of it.