Builders call for cement purchase holiday

To protest against the abnormal increase in price. Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, CREDAI Andhra Pradesh Chairman-elect K. Subba Raju said the overnight increase that pushed up the price by over Rs.100 in a month had put realtors in a bind.

In a first of its kind concerted action, various construction-related organisations have come together to protest against the abnormal increase in cement price and called for a purchase holiday from July 5 to 12.

All chapters of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana Real Estate Developers Associations, Telangana Builders Forum and Builders Association of India formed a joint action committee to “fight against the illegal and cartelised increase of cement prices by cement manufacturers and Cement Manufacturers Association”.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, CREDAI Andhra Pradesh Chairman-elect K. Subba Raju said the overnight increase that pushed up the price by over Rs.100 in a month had put realtors in a bind as they had already committed themselves to deliver at a price to buyers. Contractors doing government work were also hard hit as the price agreed at could not be increased now.

Individuals who were constructing on their own were also affected.

Twin problems

Mr. Subba Raju said the difficulties in supply of sand owing to lack of clear cut policy, closure of ramps and the “sand mafia” ruling the roost had also cast its shadow on construction sector.

Even lorry owners transporting sand were creating problems.

He said the twin problems could be challenging for the construction sector particularly in the light of the new state coming into being.

Visakhapatnam North MLA and Builders Association of India managing committee member P. Vishnu Kumar Raju described the hike as a conspiracy and wanted the State and Central governments to act.