Cement prices dearer by five per cent after budget: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Cement manufacturers had raised the cement prices by about Rs 10 to Rs 12 a bag upon the changes brought in the excise duty announced in the budget proposals for 2007-08, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Commerce Ashwani Kumar in a written reply said the increase worked out to five per cent of the prevailing consumer sale price.

The Finance Minister had reduced the excise duty on cement bags costing less than Rs 190 hoping that the manufacturers would pass the reduction on to the consumers.

UNI