In Himachal Pradesh, where a cluster of big cement plants have sprung up, the companies are charging higher prices for the cement in the State as compared to the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana.
A bag of cement is being sold in Himachal Pradesh for `320 while in the adjoining States its cost is between `260-270 per bag. Political parties, social organisations and consumer forums have warned the cement companies operating in the State against charging “arbitrary and exorbitant” prices of cement from the consumers of the hill State where cement is being produced at the cost of environmental degradation leading to lung diseases.
The cement dust is also destroying standing crops. Rakesh Singha, State Secretary of the CPI and Comrade Desh Raj State Secretary of the CPM on Wednesday warned the cement companies against charging higher prices for a commodity produced on the soil of the State by damaging environment and ecology of the green hill State.
The leaders of the left parties have cautioned the companies that they should not test the patience of the people and create explosive situation forcing the otherwise peaceful people to stop the working of the cement plants.
BJP leaders and former ministers Jai Ram Thakur, Mahinder Singh and Gulab Singh Thakur have also taken a strong exception to enforce discriminatory prices of cement in Himachal Pradesh and demanded reduction in the prices immediately in the wake of simmering resentment against the cement companies in the State.
They recalled that the BJP government had forced the companies to reduce the cement prices. But subsequently prices were increased by the companies. BJP leaders said the general opinion of the people was against cement plants which were causing health hazards.
BJP leaders said the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Himachal Pradesh a Switzerland of India and a popular destination for the tourists from across the globe would not be realized unless a blanket ban on setting up of cement plant is imposed with an iron hand.
Himachal Pradesh was best suited for pollution free industries only, they stated.