Portland cement (thought it
was a brand by itself) is the most common type of cement in general use around
the world, used as a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar, stucco, and most
non-specialty grout. It developed from other types of hydraulic lime in England
in the mid 19th century and usually originates from limestone. It is a fine
powder produced by heating materials in a kiln to form what is called clinker,
grinding the clinker, and adding small amounts of other materials. Portland
cement is caustic so it can cause chemical burns.
India is the second largest
cement producer in the world. However, it is way behind China, where the
capacity is more than five times larger. In India, it has a high rate of excise
duty and accounts for 5% of total excise duty collection. The
major raw material required is limestone gypsum, coal & power. India is
having a huge deposit of limestone. Limestone
is available in Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Gypsum is another important
material which is required along with clinker.
Back home in Tamil Nadu, the
'Amma brand' is doing great. One would
nurse different views on what Govt should be doing – but Tamil Nadu CM J.
Jayalalithaa took a giant leap forward when in her poll manifesto, she
announced distribution of free mixers, grinders, fans, milch cows and goats,
laptops to students, bus passes, free bicycles and more. In a
metropolis replete with hotels and restaurants – big and small, individual
outlets, big chains and franchisees of International brands….. the State Government forayed in to food
industry setting up Amma Unavagams in all wards in the city, which
instantaneously became a very big hit. Then came another master stroke - the
packaged drinking water project ……. ‘the amma water scheme’ formally launched
on 15th Sept. 2013. ~ and in the State of famed Vedaranyam where
Rajaji and others fought British with salt – Ms Jayalalithaa launched ‘amma
salt’….. not stopping with the success, Tamilnadu Chief Minister aspired to provide
all kinds of medicines, from routine to life saving drugs at affordable costs
to the common man. And ‘Amma Marunthagam (medical shops)’ came into
being.
There is no
stopping of ‘success tidal waves’ - The Tamil Nadu government has today announced
a populist ‘Amma Cement Scheme’ under which it will procure cement from private
manufacturers and sell them at Rs. 190 per bag in the wake of possible increase
in rates of the key construction component. The scheme, named after Chief
Minister Jayalalithaa, who is addressed as ‘Amma’ (Mother) by her supporters,
follows similar efforts which have been
all low-cost initiatives.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said she
had recently discussed with officials the situation regarding production of
cement from the State and supply from outside. The erstwhile united Andhra
Pradesh contributed about 4-4.5 lakh tonnes of cement for Tamil Nadu’s monthly
average use of 17-18 lakh tonnes, but the companies there had now hiked the
prices by Rs. 80-100 per bag, she said. “Subsequently, the supplies to Tamil
Nadu had reduced to around 1.50 lakh tonnes to 3 lakh tonnes, creating a
favourable situation for the private manufacturers here to increase price of
cement,” she said in a statement.
Therefore, she had directed
officials to roll out the “Amma Cement Scheme” aiming to benefit the lower and
middle classes, wherein the government will procure two lakh tonnes of cement
from private manufacturers every month and sell them through all urban and
rural local bodies at Rs. 190 per bag. Beneficiaries are eligible for a maximum
of 750 bags for 1500 sqft, and the cement could be bought by submitting the
government approved building plan or the road plan, she said. Those wanting to
buy cement for repair and renovation are eligible for 10 to 100 cement bags,
she said.
Tamil Nadu Cement
Corporation will be the nodal agency while the scheme will be implemented by
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Rural Development Department through
their 470 godowns, the Chief Minister said. The scheme will also cover the
state’s Green House and Central government’s Indira Awas Yojana, she said
adding, it will help ease the burden of lower and middle class in constructing
a house.
Here is the price list of
cement 50 kg bags as on 25th Sept. 2014: source : http://www.livechennai.com/cement_Price_List_Chennai.asp
Cement Price List
Items Prices (Rs.)
Dalmia Vajram 350.00
Dalmia PPC 350.00
Ramco Super Grade 350.00
Ultratech 350.00
White Cement 865.00
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
26th Sept. 2014.
