One-lakh bags of 'Amma Cement' sold in 15 days

CHENNAI: In a span of 15 days since Tamil Nadu government rolled out one of its populist scheme of subsidized cement sale for the poor, over one-lakh bags of 'Amma Cement' weighing about 5,000 metric tonne has been sold across the state.

Of the 20,000 metric tonne of cement, which was kept reserved under the ' Amma Cement Scheme' in godowns, over 5,000 metric tonne - about one lakh cement bags - have been sold upto January 20, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation said in a statement.

The state government had on September, 2013 announced the 'Amma Cement Scheme' and rolled out the sale of the key construction component on January 5 this year.

According to the scheme, the government would procure two lakh tonnes of cement from private sector and sell it at Rs 190 per bag in all Corporation, Municipalities and other local body limits.

The original cost of a cement bag is about Rs 360 here and the price will be reduced to nearly half under the scheme.

AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, who is called as 'Amma' by her party workers had launched the scheme in September last year, when she was the Chief Minister.

As per the scheme, beneficiaries can avail a minimum of 50 bags of cement for 100 sq.ft. and a maximum of 750 bags for 1500 sq.ft at Rs 190 each. They have to submit the approved building plan with the local authorities to avail it.

Further, 10-100 bags will be provided for house repair work and the scheme will be available to those constructing houses under government's Solar-powered green houses besides Centre's housing scheme, the Indira Awas Yojana.