Date:21/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042160191200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

3 firms offer cement at Rs. 190 a bag

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Even as the Andhra Pradesh Government toughened its stand against the cement companies’ failure to bring down the price, some firms have approached it with the offer to import and supply cement at Rs. 190 a bag of 50 kg.

With the Group of Ministers constituted by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy to study ways and means of bringing down the price from Rs. 230 to Rs. 200 a bag ready with its report, the Government has not ruled out import of cement, as there is no import duty on it. Sources said two or three firms, which came up with the offer, planned to import cement from Pakistan, Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia. “We are also examining the proposal to import cement as was done by Tamil Nadu, which imported 50,000 tonnes from Pakistan recently,” a Minister who did not want to be named told The Hindu on Sunday.

Meeting soon

“If the Government plans, it can also import cement through the Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation,” the source said. The Chief Minister will convene a meeting with the cement companies to find a way out to bring down the prices.