Builders' association demands centre to curb cement price hike

The Builders’ Association of India (BAI) on Tuesday demanded the Centre to constitute a regulatory authority to keep a check on carterlization by cement manufacturers which have jacked up cement prices by Rs 100. BAI spokesperson R Radhakrishnan said cement cost has skyrocketed in the past ten days. “The price of cement bags (a bag comprising 50kg) has increased by 37%. The hike does not have any basis because the price of raw materials for manufacturing cement and fuel prices has not gone up,” he said. Accusing cement manufacturers of caterlisation, he said, the development has hit the common man. Stressing that the Centre needs to constitute a regulatory body on the lines of RERA and TRAI for cement, the builders’ association charged that cement manufacturers have stopped supply of readymade concrete mixers. He added that the prices of cement have been invariably increased only in Tamil Nadu.