YSR urges Centre to ease cement import norms

Chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has urged the Centre to authorise reputed agencies like Lloyds and SGS to carry out certification and also recognise the certifications of reputed national agencies of other countries to facilitate faster import of cement into the country.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minster Manmohan Singh, the chief minister said cement imports were getting delayed in following the procedures of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

"High prices of cement are affecting the estimates of massive programmes like irrigation projects, weaker section housing programme and Rajiv Gruhakalpa, the middle-class housing project. If the cement is imported from other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, I understand that it will cost Rs 130 per bag at the landing port," he stated, adding that cement imports will stabilise the price in the state at Rs 150 per bag as against the present over Rs 200 per bag.

He suggested that the Centre may allow public sector units or interested state governments to import cement without the BIS certification but after carrying out their own quality checks.