Realtors seek cap on cement prices

​Vijayawada: Construction activity was crippled in the CRDA region due to halting of cement supply by cement companies in the State, said Gadde Thirupati Rao, secretary general of the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Developers Association (APREDA) on Wednesday.

He said the real estate sector is already struggling for its survival and will suffer many due to shortage of cement as well as rise in rates of cement. Addressing media conference here on Wednesday, Thirupati Rao said the realtors met the State government officials on September 2 and requested them to initiate measures to control the rising prices of cement but there was no response from the government yet.

He said cement price shot up from Rs 220 to Rs 330 per bag (50Kg) in less than one month and severely affected the construction activity. He alleged the cement companies have stopped supply of cement for the past two weeks with intention of creating artificial scarcity and to make money by selling the same at exorbitant prices in the market.

He said construction activity in CRDA region was already facing many problems due to increase price of land and labour charges and now cement price hike will add to the woes of builders and common people. He said the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Developers Association (APREDA) will meet the State government official very soon seeking immediate intervention to restore cement supplies as well as a cap on prices of cement.

APREDA Vice-president Ch Ramesh said not only realtors but individuals who are constructing houses too are suffering due to shortage of cement and alleged the cement companies’ syndicate is creating all these problems in the State and demanded the government to take action against erring cement companies.

He said lakhs of construction workers would suffer if the construction activity further cripples and added that buyers too face many problems if government fails to act.