Demanding the establishment of regulatory body to control cement price, members of Builders’ Association of India and the construction workers observed a fast in Palayamkottai on Tuesday.
The protestors said the unprecedented cement price hike had serious impact on the construction industry, which was already reeling under crisis owing to a range of reasons including slowdown in the Indian economy. Even as the cost of raw materials used for manufacturing cement had not increased, manufacturers had upwardly revised its cost to Rs. 380 a bag of 50 kg. It seriously affected the construction industry.
Speakers at the protest venue thanked the State Government for launching the sale of ‘Amma Cement’ at the price of Rs. 190 a bag.
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“The sale of ‘Amma Cement’ should be continued at any cost as it will help the poor and the middle class in realizing their dream of owning a house,” the speakers said.
Tuticorin
Condemning the hike in cement price, members of Builders’ Association of India, Tuticorin centre staged a protest here on Tuesday. They raised slogans against cement producers and sought government intervention to contain the soaring price of cement. A.C. Aldrin Aarachy, chairman of the Centre, who presided over the agitation near VVD signal here on Palayamkottai Road, said cement prices had increased phenomenally over the last few months.
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The increase ranges from Rs.70 to Rs.100 a bag. Currently, a bag of cement was being sold at Rs. 385 in Tamil Nadu, whereas the cost of cement in Andhra Pradesh was Rs. 220, he said.
Agents and cement factory owners had been deciding the price arbitrarily.
He also alleged that the factory owners had been creating an artificial scarcity of cement.
P. Velayutham, vice chairman, A. Martin P.Rayer, member of the centre and others attended.
Nagercoil
The Kanyakumari chapter of the Builders’ Association of India (BAI) and Civil Engineers’ Association demanded that the government established a separate authority to regulate cement price.
Members of these associations staged a hunger strike as part of the State-wide agitation. Seven cement manufacturing companies were meeting the demands of the construction industry.
These companies had increased the price of cement by Rs. 50 to Rs. 85 per bag all of a sudden affecting the entire construction industry, the leaders of the associations said.
This also affected the livelihood of thousands of construction workers.
The cement companies have also blocked supply from Andhra Pradesh-based companies at a lower rate.
They urged the district administration to relay the badly damaged roads in Kanyakumari district.
C.N. Rajeesh Kumar, president of the Kanyakumari Chapter of the Builders’ Association of India presided over the programme. Shajahan of BAI proposed a vote of thanks.
Speakers thanked the State government for launching the sale of ‘Amma Cement’