THRISSUR: The Kerala Vyapari-Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi has alleged that agents and manufactures had formed a nexus in the state leading to the shooting up of cement prices.
Samithi state president T. Naziruddin said that his organisation had taken up the matter with Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman seeking the state government's interference to bring down the prices.
"Crores of rupees has been earned by certain agents who are assisting the manufactures to fix the prices in Kerala. Though the construction market here has not seen any boom, the agents are eyeing the 'Nava Kerala' work after the floods. We will meet the civil supplies minister and ask the government to purchase cement from other states and supply it in Kerala at lower price," he said.
Amma Cement in Tamil Nadu is sold at Rs 260 for a 50 kg bag while the Kerala government's Malabar Cements sells a bag for Rs 400 now.
"While the prices in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are at Rs 300-Rs 350, the grade-A cement costs Rs 460 a sack and grade-B Rs 435 in Kerala," he said.
The samithi will meet here on February 24 to discuss the issues, including protests in front of the secretariat, he added.
