Salt Industry

Salt Industry Introduction

The salt manufacturing activities provide direct employment to about one-lakh presons per India is the third largest salt producing country day. in the world (after the US and China) with an average annual production of about 148 lakh Distribution of Salt tones. Railways play an important role in transporting In a very short period of time sufficiency was salt from three surplus states to the entire achieved (in 1953) and made a dent the export length and breadth of the country. On an market. Since then, the country has never average, 55% of edible salt is transported by resorted to imports. Exports touched an all rail from production centers. The remaining quantity moves by road and waterway. time high of 1.6 million in the year 2001. The per-capita consumption of salt in the country is estimated at about 12 kg, which includes edible as well as industrial salt. The current annual requirement of salt in the country is estimated to be 60 lakhs tones for industrial use. Caustic soda, soda ash, chlorine etc., are the major salt-based industries. Besides about 15 lakhs tones of salt is exported every year.

Iodized Salt

With a vies to ensure universal access of iodised salt for the prevention and control of goiter and other iodine deficiency disorders in the country, Salt Commissioner's Office has been identified as the nodal agency for creation of adequate salt iodisation capacity, its distribution and quality monitoring at production centers, under NIDDCP. Salt Sea salt constitutes about 70% of the total salt Department has granted permission to more production in the country. Salt manufacturing than 878 salt iodisatios units with an annual activities are carried out in the coastal states of installed capacity of 112 lakh tones so far. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal Exports Goa and hinter land State of Rajasthan. Among these States only Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Export of common salt and iodised salt is Rajasthan produces salt surplus to their permitted under Open General License requirement. These three states produce about (O.G.L.). Salt is exported manly to Japan, 70%, 15% and 12% respectively of the total Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, and salt produced in the country and cater to the Bhutan etc. requirement of all the salt deficit and non-salt producing states. India has, for the fist time, exported 32,500 tonnes of common salt to the US during Private sector plays a dominant role December 2002, creating a history of sorts. contributing over 95% of the salt production, while the public sector contributes about 2-3%. Liberalizatin and Simplification of The co-operative sector contributes about 8% whereas the small-scale sector (less than 10 Procedure acres) accounts for nearly 40% of the total salt Following amendments to Central Excise and production in the country. Salt Act, 1944 in 1996, de-licensing the salt Salt Works And Acreage Under industry and salt Cess Rules, 1964 in 2001 and introducing self-removal procedure (SRP) Salt Production instead of permit system for payment of cess and removal of salt from salt factories, several There are about 10107 salt works, mostly in registers have been discontinued or resmall sector engaged in the production of salt. organised. The total area under salt production is about 5.0 lakhs acres.