Adani Cement again justifies unilateral hike of cement
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Shimla, Dec 27 Himachal Pradesh’s two major cement plants takeover by the Adani Cement during last BJP government have continued to suspend production following the corporate house deciding to increase the price of cement bag without taking consent of the state government.
Ambuja and ACC, part of Adani Cement, are making serious efforts to resolve the issue of the closure of two plants in Himachal Pradesh. Management is seeking cooperation from all stakeholders including transport unions to resolve these issues amicably. However, the company is deeply saddened by the situation arising out of the stubborn stand of the truck unions.
The cost of cement is very high for the people of Himachal as compared to neighboring states due to high transportation costs. The ultimate beneficiary of fair transport pricing would be the people of Himachal Pradesh who would get cement bags at a lower cost.
Due to this impasse, the livelihood of cement dealers dependent on these two plants has been badly affected. Similarly, several businesses dependent on the two plants have also been affected.To highlight their plight, several dealers have appealed to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to save their business from closure due to the adamant stand of the transport unions to close the two cement plants.
The dealers have written a letter to the Chief Minister stating that not only cement companies but businesses and industries across the state are suffering from exorbitant commodity prices due to the way truck unions are operating in the state.
The dealers demanded that as a business entity, they should be able to operate in the free market. What is more unfortunate is that the local transport unions do not allow other transporters to work at competitive rates. This is against the spirit of the free market. Streamlining the transport value chain is important for the business and livelihood of the people of Himachal Pradesh, PR team maintained. It is worthwhile to mention here that the state government has issued notice to Adani Cement to immediately restore the operation of cement production and restore its operations.
Local MLA Sanjay Awasthi told UNI that after holding the talks government has asked the cement management that if it could not run the present plants under prevailing MoUs conditions and its operations is not possible the Goverment may cancel the existing lease of both plants site to further alot it to other Corporate house for future operation. It is worthwhile to mention that after three rounds of talk stalemate is leading industrial dispute between the Adani Cement and ACC Bharmana and Ambuja Cement workers trade union and plants displaced Transport unions.
Department of Industry has already issued notice to Cement plants for hiking prices of Cement without informing and taking consent of Goverment. It is worthwhile to mention that cement plants was taken over by the Corporate house to tune of Rs 82000 crore during past BJP government.
These cement plants are located in Bilaspur and Arki Assembly Constituency for which District Administration Solan and Bilaspur have held talks between the cement plants management and transporter and workers union. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Governmet snapped all Goverment projects supply from these plants and handed over the contract to Ultra Tech Cement.
