Coal news and updates

Truckers strike impacts supply of cement in Valley

The strike called by cement ferrying truckers from twin villages of Khrew and Bathyan has badly hit the cement market in valley. The strike has resulted into the black-marketing and subsequent price hike.

The truckers from these two villages, that would provide haulage for the cement to be ferried to various districts in the valley, have stopped plying their trucks from February 10 after both of these villages entered into a scuffle over union issue and Bathyan decided to form a separate one, Bashir Ahmad Malik a cement distributor from Nowgam said.

The cement dealers said that the stalemate between the two has impacted the market badly as the available stock is being sold at escalated prices given its high demand as both flood affected and the government works are going on in full swing.

“Earlier the retail price of the cement bag was around 320 to 340 rupees, but now ever since the deadlock between the two occurred the prices have soared by 60 to 100 rupees per bag giving tough time both to the dealers and the consumers,” Firdous Ahmad Shah a dealer said.

He said since the cement production decreases during summer season, the dealers and the retailers procure stocks for summers in this month. Since the deadlock prevails between the two it would mean no or less output for the coming months.

The distributors and the retailers associated with the business said that they have suffered a lot on economic front due to the strike.

Meanwhile the people associated with the trade have appealed Governor and the Divisional Commissioner to intervene into the matter to ensure restoration of the supply.