Cement manufacturers to discuss on price reductions

Mumbai, May 03 (UNI) The Government has requested the Cement Manufacturers Association to call a meeting of its members urgently and decide on steps for lowering of cement prices.

Conveying this at a meeting held under his chairmanship here this afternoon to discuss the recent increase in cement prices, Secretary (Industrial Policy&Promotion), Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ajay Dua also indicated that the position would be reviewed within a fortnight, industry sources said.

Builders Association of India (BAI); Cement Manufacturers Association; Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce&Industry; representatives from the Ministries of Coal, Power, Railways, Consumer Affairs; Urban Development and Petroleum&Natural Gas and all other stakeholders attended the meeting.

The builders said that there had been a very steep increase in price of cement in fact more than 50 per cent in the 4 to 5 months period, starting from November 2005 and that the increase was particularly steep in the northern and western markets compared to the south and the east.

UNI SN PP VKG1820