The Hindu Business Line : Ease cement import norms, says Andhra Pradesh CM

Chennai, June 29 Joining the chorus of protests against cement prices, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked the Centre to take steps to ease cement imports, including considering nominating government-owned agencies to import cement without the mandatory quality certification.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, a copy of which is available with Business Line, the Chief Minister said the Centre might consider authorising reputed agencies such as Lloyds and SGS having testing facilities to carry out certification of cement to be imported.

The Government might also recognise the certification issued by reputed national agencies of other countries from where the cement is imported.

He suggested that the Centre nominate undertakings owned by it or by State Governments that are interested in importing cement to import cement without BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification but after carrying out their own quality checks.

Dr Reddy said out that import of cement was getting delayed following procedures prescribed by the BIS. “The procedure of testing cement requires a minimum period of 28 days for finding out the compressive strength.”

BIS formalities

The formalities in BIS take at least two to three months. Further, the cement imported in large quantities had to be stored for a considerable period of time for want of BIS certification. He pointed out that the State Government was the main consumer of cement. The Andhra Pradesh Government was in the process of promoting housing for weaker sections, and had taken up several major and medium irrigation projects, road and infrastructure projects for both industries and information technology. High prices of cement were affecting the cost estimates for these projects.

“If the cement is imported from other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, I understand that it will cost only $60-65 a tonne, or Rs 130 per bag at the landing port,” he said.

These steps to facilitate imports would ease pricing pressure and also help reduce inflation, the Chief Minister said.

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