TN will import cement for holding price line

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government will import cement to curb the rise in its price, the Higher Education Minister, Mr K. Ponmudy, said here on Friday.

Mr Ponmudy and the Electricity Minister, Mr N. Veerasamy, held a second round of talks with cement manufacturers at the Secretariat.

The manufacturers informed the ministers that the price in Tamil Nadu was lower than that in many States.

The price rise was because of the huge demand across the country. The demand was far higher than the supply.

The Ministers told them that the price had to be brought down so that small builders and the common man were not affected.

The representatives were also keen on controlling the price, Mr Ponmudy said, adding that they were not averse to importing cement.

“In fact, they said they too will help in this,” he said, in response to a question. The quantum of import would be based on the demand.