The Union power ministry has
sought restrictions on the use of
imported power equipment, it is
learnt. Such equipment would need to
adhere to energy efficiency norms and
there should be guarantee on availability
of spare parts. The new norms could
also find applications across the capital
goods industry. The move is seen to
boost domestic capital goods
manufacturers, especially those in the
SME sector. Imports of second-hand
equipment are mainly seen in power
equipment, machine tools, textile
machinery, earthmoving equipment,
etc. The Centre is also likely to impose
curbs on the number of ports through
which such imports could take place.
India yet has no separate policy for
imported second-hand equipment,
unlike countries like China, Australia
and Thailand that are known to have
specific policies in this regard.