Kozhikode: Price hike hits dealers

Kozhikode: The cement dealers' welfare association has decided to press the government to control the rising cement prices.

The association will form a body of cement users in the state and ask the government to form a regulatory committee with the cement companies to fix the prices.

Because of the absence of a price regulatory body, the cement companies increase the prices according to their whims and fancies.  Till last month, cement was available in the state for Rs 355 to Rs 360 a bag, which has now gone up to Rs 395 -- Rs 440. But in other states, the price is still around Rs 310 - Rs 360 per bag.

Kerala State Cement Dealers 'Welfare Association state secretary Sirajudheen told DC t0hat the centre was planning to bring down the GST rate for cement to 18- 20 percent. Therefore, the cement companies were trying to make the maximum profits by raising the prices. They also foresee a huge demand for cement in the coming months for the rebuilding of the state, he said.

The price hike hits the dealers along with the consumers because the dealers have to pay higher daily wages to the workers. The association has decided to urge Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan and Finance Minister Thomas Isaac to hold a meeting with the cement companies to discuss the price rise.