Date:24/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062455060400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR for cement import sans curbs

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to facilitate import of cement immediately without any conditions to contain rising prices in the domestic market.

In a letter to Dr. Singh, he conveyed that Andhra Pradesh was the main consumer of cement in the country because of the massive housing programmes like Indiramma, Rajiv Gruha Kalpa and Rajiv Swagruha. He said the State had also taken up building massive infrastructure for the information technology sector as well as for attracting industries. It was also modernising ports and airports. All these works required cement in huge quantities.

If import was allowed, the State would be able to get cement below Rs. 150 a bag and save up to Rs. 20,000 crore.