Published on Fri, May 02, 2008 at 08:47 | Source : Business Line
Updated at Fri, May 02, 2008 at 10:18
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Cement price control under Govt consideration
Serious in its intent to rein-in cement prices, the Government is contemplating using a practically abandoned provision of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, which empowers it to regulate prices and supplies of industrial commodities.
Serious in its intent to rein-in cement prices, the Government is contemplating using a practically abandoned provision of the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, which empowers it to regulate prices and supplies of industrial commodities.
This provision, Section 18G, continues to be on the statute books but has not been used for almost 19 years after a Cabinet decision in 1989 not to invoke it. Section 18G provides for control on prices and supplies of industrial products without bringing them under the purview of the Essential Commodities Act under which powers are vested with States.
Contacted by Business Line for a confirmation, the Minister of State for Industries, Mr Ashwani Kumar, said his Ministry was conducting a study on whether the cement industry was into cartelisation and profiteering. "Our Ministry is analysing the pricing of the cement industry," he said.
This provision, Section 18G, continues to be on the statute books but has not been used for almost 19 years after a Cabinet decision in 1989 not to invoke it. Section 18G provides for control on prices and supplies of industrial products without bringing them under the purview of the Essential Commodities Act under which powers are vested with States. 
