The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Construction industry’s cup of woes overflows

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Construction industry’s cup of woes overflows

M. Gunasekaran

Prices of sand and steel rise suddenly

TIRUPUR: Even as the galloping price of cement is yet to show a sign of decline in the wake of Tamil Nadu Government’s takeover threat of cement factories, the sudden hike in prices of steel and sand fuelled the woes of construction industry.

Sand price was raised by Rs. 500 a load (three units) at Tirupur in the last three days.

Industry sources put the blame on Government authorities for the sudden hike as the charge at loading points near Karur increased to Rs. 2,400 a load from Rs. 2,100 three days ago.

Solace

K. Shanmugaraj, president of Tirupur Civil Engineers Association (TCEA), said it cost Rs. 7,000 a load of sand in Tirupur and the same was Rs. 6,500 a couple of days ago. Similarly, steel price increased by Rs. 1,500 a tonne two days ago. He said the price of steel rods stood at Rs. 32,500 a tonne till recently and it touched Rs. 34,000 a tonne now. The only solace the industry gets is from crushing units since they did not hike the price of blue metal.

In fact, the rates have come down by Rs. 300 a unit. There is no change in the price of cement despite the threat by the Government. Thanking the Government for importing cement and taking efforts to bring down the cost, the TCEA urged the Chief Minister to import cement in large quantities.

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