Alert ! Fake cement sold across Kashmir Valley

Closure of Kashmir-based manufacturing units over months has provided an opportunity to unscrupulous elements to pump “fake and substandard” cement in the Valley putting question mark over the role of enforcement agencies here.
Sources informed Kashmir Post that unscrupulous elements from other region of state are manufacturing “fake and substandard cement” and then importing it to Kashmir by packaging and presenting cement as products of national companies. “There is lot of complaints in the market about the quality of cement which is being sold these days,” said a senior Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution official.

“These unscrupulous elements are selling the cement without proper billing so it becomes difficult to trace them,” he said adding that use of sub-standard cement can put in jeopardy human lives.
However, the official puts blame on unrest for failing to initiate action against these unscrupulous elements.
While inaction of the government is allowing these elements to cheat gullible consumers as they have little know how about the quality and standard of cement currently available in the market.

“I purchased cement bag at Rs 650 per 50 Kg, but the mason informed me that the cement is of sub-standard quality but at that time I insisted him to use it due to non-availability of local cement,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a Srinagar resident. He added that after few days of using the outside manufactured cement, the walls built by that cement developed cracks within three days.
Similarly, other consumer, Muhammad Yaqoub informed that he had throw away three bags of cement marked as outside brands due to its sub-standard quality.
However, the Valley-based unit holders have urged the people to pay for the cement as per the MRP.
“Although local manufacturing units were closed for over three months, however for last couple days we have resumed our operations in the relaxation period announced by the resistance leadership,” said a local unit holders adding that they are “ receiving numerous about the supply of substandard cement being pumped into the Valley markets.”
“We have made it clear that local cement manufacturing companies have not increased their rates and nobody should buy a cement bag of 50 kg above Rs 400 as there is no hike from our side,” he said.
The local manufacturing unit owners also urged the general masses not to buy cement above MRP pricing. “ We have apprehensions that some dealers may sell the cement at higher prices in order to defame the local brands, so we are intimating public not to fall prey to these unscrupulous elements.”
Prior to unrest, the local production—both in private and public sector— would suffice the demand. However, the closure of the units for over three months due to the shutdown from July 9 has made Valley dependent on imports.