CHENNAI: In yet another Amma brand initiative, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday announced the sale of Amma Cement at concessional rate to people in the lower and middle income group. Already, the AIADMK government is implementing many Amma brand initiatives - Amma Unavagams, Amma Mineral Water, Amma Salt, Amma Seeds and Amma Pharmacies.
Under the new scheme, two lakh metric tonnes of cement would be procured every month from private players in Tamil Nadu and this cement would be sold at concessional rate of Rs.190 per bag through the 220 godowns of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies and 250 godowns of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department located in Corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and panchayat unions.
Besides, the cement at concessional rate would be sold through District Supply and Marketing Societies which can stock 400 bags at a time. The sale would be regulated by the federation of self help groups at panchayat level to be selected by the District Collector.
For undertaking construction in 100 sq.ft, 50 bags of cement can be had at concessional rate A maximum of 750 bags can be availed at concessional rate for undertaking construction in 1,500 sq.ft. For undertaking repair works or for renovating the house, 10 to 100 bags of cement would be provided at concessional rate, the Chief Minister added.
“At present, the TANCEM is supplying cement at Rs.220 per bag to the houses constructed under the Green Houses Scheme and Indira Awaz Yojana. Hereafter, Amma Cement at concessional rate would be made available for these schemes also”, she added.
Those who wish to avail this scheme should produce the approved plan of the building or the certificate of Village Administrative Officer/Revenue Officer/Panchayat Union Supervisor/Panchayat Union Road Inspector. The Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Limited would be the nodal agency for implementing this new scheme while Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will be agencies.
Senior Zonal Manager/Zonal Manager of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation will be acting as the Coordinating Agent for the cement sold through the Rural Development Department godowns while the Assistant Director of the Rural Development Department will be appointed as the Coordinator for selling this cement through district level godowns.
Stating that at present, in Tamil Nadu, 17 to 18 lakh metric tonnes of cement was being used per month and of this, the Chief Minister said four to 4.5 lakh metric tonnes of cement was procured from united Andhra Pradesh. The quantum procured from Andhra Pradesh was one fourth of the cement consumed in Tamil Nadu.
The cement manufacturing companies in neighbouring States, particularly Andhra Pradesh had hiked the cement price by Rs.80 to Rs.100 per bag and the cement was being sold at Rs.310 per bag. Due to this, the inflow of cement from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu had come down by 1.50 lakh metric tonnes to three lakh metric tonnes. This had, eventually created a conducive atmosphere for the cement companies in Tamil Nadu to hike the cement price.
With a view to safeguard the lower and middle income group people from the hike in price of cement, she had ordered to implement Amma Cement Scheme to provide cement at concessional rate and expressed confidence that her initiative would lessen the burden of the people while constructing houses.