Cement companies, which had increased their prices, on Monday rolled it back after a meeting with the senior officials of the State Government.
As per the directions of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, a high-level meeting was convened under the chairpersonship of Manisha Nanda, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries with the representatives of three leading cement companies in the State — ACC ltd, Jaypee Cement and Ambuja Cement to discuss issues of hike in prices in open market.
A spokesman of the State Government said that after persuasion by the State Government, all the three major cement companies agreed to roll back the recent hike in cement prices in open market at various locations of the State.
He said the cement companies also agreed to reduce the price from `5 to `10 where the hike is upto `15 and agreed to reduce the price by `15 where the hike is from `15 to `30 and more in the State.
The spokesman said that it was also decided in the meeting that the Transport Department would notify fresh rates of transportation of Goods within a period of two weeks. In addition Excise and Taxation Department would also initiate process to rationalize taxes under CGCR/AGT Acts for such industries which were paying tax on transportation of raw material as well as on finished products within a month.
He said that the State Civil Supplies Corporation would ensure adequate Government supply of cement under rate contract and quarterly report to Industries Department about prevailing cement prices in the open market.
He said that the Food and Civil Supplies Department would take appropriate steps for checking the rates
charged by retailers in comparison to the rates offered to them by wholesalers/ dealers
as fixed by the cement companies.
The spokesman said that it was also decided in the meeting that the Deputy Commissioners would regularly review the adequate supply of Government cement so that developmental works of the Government do not suffer for want of cement.