Suggests to invoke ESMA to bring down cement prices
Raipur, November 21, 2011
The leader of the opposition Ravindra Choubey had demanded from Chief Minister Raman Singh to break the syndicate of cement companies to bring down skyrocketing cement prices in the state. In this connection, Choubey has also written a letter to the CM urging him to take immediate measures to give relief to the people from increased cement rates.
Condemning the cement companies for forming syndicate, Choubey said the sole objective of the companies was to earn huge profit under the nose of the government. “Cement comes under basic facilities but its prices are at unprecedented high. Surprisingly, the government has posed mysterious silence over this grave issue instead of taking proactive measure to bring down cement rates,” he said.
“Chhattisgarh is one of the highest cement producing states in country. The annual cement production in the state is over one crore tonne, but consumption is proportionately much low,” Choubey said.
“In last five-six months, the companies have hiked cement prices by Rs 90-100, but its manufacturing cost (i.e. cost of raw materials, power tariff, labour rates, etc) remained almost constant. Then on what basis the companies kept on increasing cement rates,” asked Choubey.
“Already the cost of building materials including sand, bricks and macadam has shot up. Now, high cement prices are only causing additional financial burden on people who wanted to build their own house. Even the estimated costs of the government projects too have gone up,” he said.
Urging the CM to invoke Essential Commodities and Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1955, Choubey said, “The cement companies are exploiting people. The government should quickly intervene and take appropriate action against these companies.”
He further suggested the CM to ban export of cement and clinker from Chhattisgarh to other states if the companies refuse to rollback cement prices.
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