Cement prices not set by state, regulated by CCI: Himachal Pradesh ministers

Industry Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani on Tuesday said that cement prices are not fixed by the state government but are regulated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), rejecting allegations that the Himachal Pradesh government was responsible for recent price hikes.

In a joint press release, the ministers said the state government had not increased any tax on cement that could have led to a rise in prices. They accused Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur of misleading the public with what they described as baseless statements.

The ministers pointed out that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, cement prices in Himachal Pradesh were Rs 40 to Rs 50 higher than the current rates. They added that the present Congress government had taken effective steps to support people affected by natural disasters.

They said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had introduced a special relief package for disaster-affected families and that the government was working with full commitment towards the reconstruction of houses, shops and public infrastructure damaged in recent calamities.

Advising the Leader of the Opposition to verify facts before making public statements, Chauhan and Dharmani said Thakur should instead focus on the pending PDNA (Post-Disaster Needs Assessment) funds that are yet to be released to Himachal Pradesh by the Central Government.

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