The cement manufacturers in Chhattisgarh have recently reduced their rates by ₹45 per bag after increasing the rates by ₹50, against which they received a lot of resentment. Raipur MP Brijmohan Agrawal had come highly vocal on this issue and, concerning the price hike issue, had written a letter to the Chief Minister, Union Finance Minister, and even the Competition Commission of India urging them to reconsider the increased rates.
In the letter, MP Agrawal mentioned that Chhattisgarh is a land of minerals, iron ore, coal, and energy, but the cement companies suddenly increased their prices on 3rd September 2024. He alleged that the companies devised a cartel with the aim to charge an extra ₹50 per bag of cement unfairly, thus imposing a direct economic burden on the population of the state. Agrawal also stressed stringent action for the government against these cement factories for returning to the people on this issue for price reduction. He also stressed that though these companies enjoy cheap input prices, including minerals, coal, and electricity, the cost has a direct impact on the residents of Chhattisgarh.
The MP also noted that the state manufactures approximately 3 million tons of cement, or 80 million bags, monthly. The price of cement was around ₹260 per bag before September 3, 2024 and then sky-rocketed to ₹310 in a single day. The cement used for government and public welfare projects such as PWD was further priced at ₹210 per bag and was later increased to ₹260.
This was stated by MP Agrawal, who scanned the impending rise in price as dangerous, particularly to the ongoing infrastructure developments such as roads, buildings, bridges, canals, school, colleges, and PMAY in the state. He told them that this sudden increase would increase the cost of these projects, and it would become a problem for the poor to construct houses, which would not be good for the state and the nation’s development.
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