BJP MP Brijmohan Agrawal has criticised a sharp increase in cement prices by manufacturers and called on the Chhattisgarh government and the Centre to intervene and reverse the hike.
Agrawal said the sudden rise of ₹50 per sack in cement prices will impact infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, schools, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).
In separate letters to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Competition Commission of India on 6 September, Agrawal claimed that cement manufacturers had formed a cartel, raising prices from 3 September despite the state's abundance of mineral resources, iron, coal, and energy.
"The attitude of cement companies has become that of looting the innocent people of Chhattisgarh," Agrawal said, urging the government to take strict action against them.
He noted that Chhattisgarh provides cement firms with mines, coal, energy, and cheap labour, yet manufacturers continue to exploit these resources. He added that raw materials and energy are available at lower costs.
Chhattisgarh produces 30 lakh tonnes (6 crore sacks) of cement each month. Prices per sack were ₹260 before 3 September but have now risen to ₹310. Cement for government projects, which was previously ₹210, now costs ₹260 per sack.
The BJP leader warned that the price hike will make it harder for the poor to build houses under PMAY, and increase costs for public infrastructure projects, including canals and anganwadi buildings.
Agrawal urged both the state and central governments to convene a meeting with cement companies and push for a rollback of the price increase.
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