Spiralling cement rates: K'taka Govt writes to Centre

Bijapur, Karnataka, June 6 (UNI) The Karnataka Government has written to the Centre to prevail upon cement factories to reduce the spiralling rates, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Govind Karjol said today.

Talking to reporters here, he said most of the States have written to the Centre in this regard. As cement did not come under the purview of the Essential Commodities Act now, it was difficult to control its price.

The Minister asked the Union Government to warn the factories that if the rates were not reduced, cement would be again brought under the Essential Commodities Act.

Mr Karjol said the Rs 141 crore project under the multi village scheme would soon be implemented at 312 villages in the district, facing acute water shortage, to provide safe drinking water. The project proposal would be approved within 15 days.

He said the State Government was also actively considering the Rs 30 crore project for groundwater recharge. Under this programme, 808 new barrages and 101 percolation tanks would be built.

After the JD(S)-BJP Government assumed power, Rs 309 crore had been released to tackle rural drinking water problem, he added.

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