YSR urges Centre to facilitate cement imports to AP

Hyderabad, June 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today urged the Centre to immediately facilitate import of cement without any conditions to ease prices in the domestic market.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the press here, the chief minister said Andhra Pradesh was the main consumer of cement in the country because of its massive housing schemes like Indiramma, Rajiv Gruhakalpa, Rajiv Swagruha and its massive infrastructure facilities for IT sector as well as for attracting industries and other investments.

Pointing out the supply was not able to meet the growing demand, Dr Reddy said the state will be able to get cement below Rs 150 per bag and would automatically bring down the cement prices in the Indian markets, if import of cement was allowed.

Stating the country would be able to save Rs 20,000 crore once cement imports were allowed, he said the imports were getting delayed because of the procedures prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The procedures should be liberalised very quickly, he added.

UNI