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Builders seek tripartite meet on cement price

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Feb. 25

THE Builders' Association of India has called for a tripartite meeting of cement manufacturers, Government and builders' representatives to deal with cement price hike.

At a press conference here, the BAI Chairman, Mr R. Raman, said that such a meeting should help find a solution to the cement price increase. The prices were being controlled by a cartel of cement manufacturers, he alleged.

Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi's representation to the Centre to cut import duty and other levies on cement, he said that this would certainly bring down prices. Cement could be imported at Rs 125 per bag compared to the preva iling rates of Rs 175-180, he said.

The news reports of the Centre considering a cut in import duties had resulted in cement prices coming down by Rs 20 in Andhra Pradesh. But in Tamil Nadu, prices still continued to be high. In the southern districts and for retail customers, it was aroun d Rs 200, he said.

Mr R. Radhakrishnan, former President of BAI, said that the letter to the Centre from Mr Karunanidhi was in itself an official recognition of the existence of the cartel. Steps should be taken immediately to control the hike in cement prices. Only the pu blic and labourers suffered from the hike in prices.

The BAI's call to control prices was spurred purely by its social responsibility, he said. The builders passed on any price hike to the public, and were in no way affected by cement prices, he maintained.