Kozhikkode: Cement prices in Kerala were raised by 25 Rupees per bag (50 kilograms) last day. With this, Kerala has cemented its place as the number one state in the prices of this commodity in the country.
This move comes close on the heels of an unprecedented price hike of 50 rupees in early February by the private sector companies. Malabar Cements, a public sector cement company, too had upped its prices by 30 rupees per bag just a day after the private players raised their prices.
The government response so far has just been an announcement by the industries minister that he will call a meeting of the representatives of cement companies and distributors. Organizations in the construction and real estate industry are contemplating a “construction bandh” by the end of this month to protest against the absence of government measures to counter this extortion.
Surprisingly, while the cement companies rake in crores of rupees through this move, the state government receives just a pittance in additional tax revenues.
