Real estate business hit by scarcity of cement

Mysore, Aug 19 (UNI) The construction and real estate business in and around Mysore region are facing severe problems due to scarcity of cement, hike in cement price and shortage of skilled manpower.

Manager Partner Siddaraju leading construction company, told UNI that the builders were facing acute shortage of cement and skilled manpower.

''Right now, we are bringing masons and other casual labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to complete the ongoing projects. Scarcity of cement has created a fresh hurdle in completing the works,'' he said.

For small-scale construction activities, the situation had touched the nadir with many cement dealers putting up ''no stock'' boards.

The shortage of cement had been attributed to heavy consumption in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, where lot of infrastructure development projects were on.

According to cement wholesale dealers, the brisk construction activities in Andhra Pradesh have affected the inflow of cement to Karnataka, as the bulk of cement supply comes from Andhra Pradesh.

The builders alleged the cement manufacturers, forming a cartel, were creating an artificial scarcity to hike the price.

The cement prices had spiralled up drastically, said Builders Association of India Mysore Chapter Chairman K Sriram.

MORE UNI