Date:04/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/04/stories/2007030418150500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Plea to check cement prices

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers' Union has demanded that the Government intervene to bring down cement prices that touched Rs. 220 a bag here and Rs. 215 in Vijayawada. The pre-budget price was Rs. 190 a bag.

R. Kotam Raju, president and K. Umamaheswara Rao, secretary, said in a statement here on Saturday that following price rise, construction cost had gone up steeply, burdening lower-middle classes.

They alleged that cement dealers were bringing about such a situation leading to loss of jobs of construction workers. They wanted the Government to take action against those selling cement at higher prices, in spite of the relief announced in the union budget.