Cement gets dearer by Rs 30 per bag

Tribune News Service

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, April 19

Cement prices have again gone up in the state. The companies have increased the price of a cement bag by Rs 30. The prices in higher regions have increased to Rs 465 per bag. In areas adjoining Punjab, the cement prices have gone up to Rs 450 per bag. The companies have increased the prices from Monday, according to some dealers.

A political issue

• Prices in higher areas have increased to Rs. 465 per bag.
• In areas adjoining Punjab, the cement prices have gone up to Rs. 450 per bag.
• High cement prices have been a political issue in the state.

The contractors executing government works and people carrying out private constructions are unhappy over the sudden increase in the cement prices by about 8 per cent. Mukesh Kumar, who is constructing a house in Dharamsala, said that the cement prices had gone up by Rs 50 per bag in the past few months.

District Congress president Ajay Mahajan said that it was a sorry affair that the prices of cement that was being manufactured in Himachal was higher here than in adjoining states. “There is no reason for the companies to increase cement prices by Rs 30 per bag in one go. The Congress will hold protests against the rise in cement prices,” he added.

The high cement prices have been a political issue in the state. The parties have been accusing each other of failing to rein in manufacturing companies. With the Assembly elections in the state approaching, the issue is likely to gather heat in the coming day.

The government had formed a committee to inquire into irregularities being committed by cement companies at their mining sites in the state. Reliable sources say that the committee had submitted its report to the government. It was expected that the government might leverage the report to pressure the companies to reduce cement prices. However, the companies have again increased the prices.

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