OPA Protests unethical increase in the price of Paper

Ludhiana, March 1, 2017: During an emergency meeting of Offset Printers’ Association the sudden increase in the prices of kraft paper was condemned. Speaking on the occasion Mr.Gagandeep Singh, Secretary OPA said, it is unfortunate that the prices of paper is being increased by the paper mills without any reason. The kraft paper which was available at Rs.26 per kg only 15 days back in now quoted at 30/- kg. Similarly Semi Kraft is also increased from 22/- to 26/- and duplex from 33/- to 37/- per kg. It is being voiced that there will be more increase in a day or two. It seems that the mills are working as a cartel and increasing the prices without any reason. The mills has stopped its production to create the scarcity and the printers are helplessly watching because even government is not coming for their rescue, though paper is declared as an essential commodity under ‘The Essential Commodities, Act, 1955’.
Mr. Amarjot Arora, Executive Members said, it is seen that only recently after Central, state governments cracked down on pulses hoarders for violating the Essential Commodities Act, a paper floated by the NITI Aayog has called for ‘judicious’ use of the Act to make private investments in marketing and storage attractive. Why discrimination with Paper, it is also an essential commodity and government must intervene to crackdown this cartel of paper mills who are increasing the prices of paper unnecessarily when everyone know that is no increase in the prices of any raw-material required for the manufacture of kraft paper.
Prof. Kamal Chopra, President All India Federation of Master Printers said, printing and packaging industry is already suffering due to stiff competition from overseas. The overnight increase in the prices, without any pre intimation cannot be justified. The printers book order on the prevailing market prices of the raw-material, with such increase without any notice it may not be possible to supply the order or we have to complete the balance orders in losses, which is nothing but a death-nail for the printer due to the cartel of the paper mills.