The rupee today declined by 24 paise to trade at over 11-month lows of 56.97 in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange market due to heavy dollar demand from importers. Besides, increased demand for the American currency from importers and a weak opening in the domestic equity market also put pressure on the rupee. The rupee had lost 29 paise, its biggest single day fall in a week, to end at 56.73 against the dollar yesterday as importers bought dollars amid renewed concerns over withdrawal of US monetary stimulus.