Cement companies ACC, Ambuja and Jaypee agree to cut prices by Rs 25/bag in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: Cement companies ACC, Ambuja and Jaypee have agreed to slash prices by Rs 25 per bag of 50 kg in Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect, an official release said here.

The three cement companies have agreed to reduce prices by Rs 25 per bag with immediate effect at a meeting convened by Chief Minister P K Dhumal, the release said.

Cement is dearer by Rs 50-75 per bag in the state as compared to Punjab and Haryana, even though cement plants are located in the state, enjoying several incentives and benefits.

The Himachal government has been persuading the companies to cut prices to provide some relief to consumers in the state.

The Chief Minister, who had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare cement as controlled item under the Essential Commodities Act two days back, spoke to the representatives of the cement companies and made it clear that this anomalous situation could not be allowed to persist and the companies must rationalise the cement prices, the release said.