Cement burn: Soaring prices spark outrage
The soaring prices of cement in Kangra district, compared to neighbouring Punjab, have angered consumers and dealers alike. Cement in Himachal Pradesh is 20-30 per cent costlier per bag than in adjoining areas such as Pathankot and Talwara in Hoshiarpur district. Over the past two years, cement companies have hiked prices four times in the state.
Ironically, despite hosting half a dozen cement plants, Himachal Pradesh sees significantly higher cement prices than many other parts of the country. These plants, run by companies like ACC, Ambuja and Ultratech, cater to the northern Indian market but have adopted separate sales and pricing policies for Himachal, violating regulatory norms. Cement from these companies reportedly costs Rs 80 to Rs 100 more per bag in Himachal than in Punjab.
According to information gathered by The Tribune, this differential pricing — around 30 per cent higher in Himachal — constitutes a violation of the Essential Commodities Act, under which cement is classified as an essential item. While the state government has the authority to regulate its price, it has allegedly turned a blind eye, allowing companies to exploit consumers unchecked.
Dealers in border towns such as Nurpur, Fatehpur, Dehra Gopipur and Terrace in Kangra district say they have virtually lost business to their Punjab counterparts. They point out that while cement prices in Punjab hover between Rs 300 and Rs 350 per bag, the same brands are sold in Himachal at Rs 440 to Rs 460 per bag. As a result, most residents in the border areas prefer purchasing cement from Punjab.
The disparity has grown sharper in recent months, with Punjab prices declining while Himachal’s remain high.
A senior official from one of the cement companies, speaking to The Tribune, attributed the high costs to transportation expenses, blaming truck unions in Bilaspur and Solan for artificially inflating carriage rates — almost double that of Punjab. He maintained that these costs were inevitably passed on to consumers.
However, Vijay Kumar, a resident of Palampur constructing a house, dismissed this explanation. “Even with higher transportation costs, there cannot be a difference of Rs 100 per bag,” he said, calling on the government to legislate a regulatory mechanism to monitor cement prices and curb the high-handedness of cement companies.
