High price of bricks leaves residents worried

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 5

The high cost of bricks in the local market is burning a hole in the pockets of residents as their dream of building a home has become costlier. At present, brick-kiln owners are charging Rs 6,000 per thousand bricks. Earlier this year, these were available for 3,800 per thousand bricks.

The brick-kiln owners attribute the rise in the price to the NGT orders, which did not allow them to operate their busniess after June-July.

Sources said earlier, the brick-kiln owners were allowed to operate in October. As this year the permission was granted in November, they said the fall in the supply has increased the prices due to more demand.

Earlier, the brick-kiln owners used to operate in two seasons — summers and winters. As the NGT has restricted the manufacturing to only one season, the supply has been decreased.

“A month ago, the price was around Rs6,500 per thousand bricks. It has decreased by around Rs500 just because the permission to operate kilns has received,” said Manbir Singh, a leading brick manufacturer, adding that there is no chance of reduction in the price.

“Even if our production goes down, we will suffer losses because the demand is too high. However, customers will have to bear the brunt,” he added.

As these are necessary for construction of buildings, the increase in the price of bricks has worried residents.

Even as the price of sand has increased, people involved in the construction business said residents are waiting for the price to go down.

“Last year, the normal price was around Rs4,800- Rs5,000 per thousand bricks. People are postponing their construction plans due to higher costs,” said Jagjit Singh, a construction contractor.