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Soon, cement from Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates will land in Chennai and Tuticorin ports and people planning to construct homes can expect a dip in cement price.

Rushing to the rescue of the construction industry after the cement cartel refused to reduce the price, the state government has decided to import cement to bring down the price in the domestic market, industries minister S.P.Velumani announced in the Assembly.

The Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation (TANCEM) has already invited international competitive bids to procure 5 lakh tonnes of cement. “We are planning to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of cement in the Chennai port and an equal quantity at Tuticorin. This is mainly to bring down the price,” a senior official said.
The spiralling price of cement in the open market has been a cause for concern in Tamil Nadu and it often becomes a political issue.

The state government last imported cement a decade ago to ease price in the domestic market.

Cement price now stood between `280 and `310 per bag in the market. The imported cement will be sold for less than `250 per bag.

“The idea behind import of cement is to make the commodity cheaper to consumers,” reasoned an official, adding that the imported cement would be sold in retail and bulk to customers on a cash-andcarry basis. Based on the response, TANCEM would place orders to import more cement.
Official sources said they were planning to import the stock mainly from Pakistan, UAE, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

“There will not be a compromise on quality. The product should comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards,” insisted the official.

Mr Velumani said an industrial park would be set up on 100 acres exclusively for aircraft components manufacturing industries in Sriperumbudur.

The state government was also planning to create an integrated aerospace park at a sprawling 3,000acre Perambalur SEZ project.