NEW DELHI. Oct 9 Pressure is building on the Indian finance ministry to exempt certain items from payment of excise duty to help the indigenous manufacturers tide over the problem of cheap Imports, says Xinhua.

Pleading the case of the Indigenous manufactures, who are suffering from an import rush, the Commerce Ministry urged the Finance Ministry to exempt certain goods from payment of excise duty, the Commerce Ministry sources said her today.

Apart from the Commerce Ministry. the Industry Ministry has also urged the Finance Ministry to review

the excise duty on various individual items along with the landed cost of imported goods through various available routes, the sources said.

The industry, especially small-scale sector engaged in manufacturing of consumer goods, presented a proposal to the Commerce Ministry, suggesting exemption from payment of excise duty as a way to fight cheap Imports

Since the lowering of tariff barriers, various goods have flooded the Indian market. The Imported goods are having an overall Impact on the prices of locally-made goods and eroded their competitiveness In the market, the sources added.