NEW DELHI, May 7: The rubber industry has lambasted the government for reconstituting the Rubber Board without its representatives and termed the step as "retrograde and unprecedented."

Demanding representation on par with the planters, it has in a letter to the Commerce Secretary expressed apprehension that the board without rubber consuming industry's nominees might prove `` gravely prejudicial'' to the interests of both the tyre and the non-tyre segments.

The All India Rubber Industries' Association (AIRIA) has pointed out in the letter that the most important committee of the board is the statistics and import and export committee.

This committee which considers matters relating to production, demand, export and import of natural rubber.

It is ``beyond comprehension'' to understand how without rubber goods manufacturers' representatives on this committee, their interests would be protected, AIRIA asks.

Emphasising that the reconstituted board is ``totally biased'' in favour of the planters, the letter says `` there is no doubt that the decisions taken by it will be positively detrimental to the growth and development of the rubber consuming industry and is bound to stifle its growth.'' the association added.

As it is with only two nominees as against seven of the planters as per the provisions of the Rubber Act, the association says it has no voice in the Rubber Board, the AIRIA added.

This leads to ``imbalances'' and hampers a realistic assessment of the demand-supply situation of the commodity, it added.

Charging the government with ``pampering and over-protecting'' the growers, AIRIA has demanded that with assured prices and assured markets, the plantation industry should be treated as full-fledged industry.

Stressing the mutuality of interests and inter-dependence of growers and consuming industries, AIRIA warns the government that by ``stifling'' the latter, it would not be able to help the planters to prosper.

AIRIA claims to represent 32 tyre factories, 250 large and medium units and over 5500 small and an equal number of tiny units.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.