India: cement closures called in Rayalaseema

The Rayalaseema Rashtra Samiti, an organisation based in Proddatur of Kadapa district, has given a closure call for all cement factories in the four Rayalaseema districts on 23 May if the price per bag is not reduced to INR150 (US$2.80) from the current INR330 (US$6.24).

Samithi president Kuncham Venkata Subba Reddy has sent out notices to the cement factories and also written a letter to Prime Minister, apprising him of the problems faced by people of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool districts due to the high prices of cement. He also submitted a memorandum to Governor ESL Narasimhan.

Mr Reddy recalled that the government had assigned thousands of acres of land for the cement factories with intent to provide ample employment opportunities. However, the managements had failed to employ locals, he said.

Other demands of the RRS include payment of compensation of INR20,000/acre to farmers because they had lost their crop due to the dust emitted the factories in a radius of 10km around them.