SRINAGAR: As the work in cement factories in Khrew area remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday, the resultant shortage of cement has led to disruption of construction work across Kashmir Valley.
Reports said that major construction works going on in the state including Budshah Chowk-Rambagh flyover, other development projects and construction of flood-affected houses and private buildings have been severely hit due to shortage of cement.
Reports said there has been no production of cement in the plants at Khanmoh from past four days.
The production has come to halt following protests launched by residents of Khrew who allege that the pollution caused by these cement factories in the area has affected their life and livelihood. They demand free electricity to about 3000 households in the area, which the plant holders say was practically impossible to fulfill.
A spokesman of the cement unit holders said the seven cement factories in the area, including the government owned JK Cements Limited generate about 250 truck loads of cement every day, and the halt in production makes them to incur a collective loss of Rs 1.5 to two crore per day.
He added that providing free electricity to about 3000 households is practically impossible for them. We are ready to fulfill every other demand of people of Khrew, but we cant afford to provide free electricity to locals, he said and offered to build a hospital, roads and other public infrastructure instead.
JK Cements to resume work today
Managing Director of Government owned JK Cements Limited, R K Sharma Tuesday said work at the Cement plant will resume tomorrow (Wednesday).
Following the huge demand of cement in the construction market and pleas for his customers, MD JK Cements said if any untoward situation arises owing to the protest by locals, he will be forced to get help from local police as he says he has taken up the matter with the government.
Talking to KNS, Sharma added that the locals have complaints with the cements plants owned by private players, but they are stalling our work without any reason.
Our plant functions in proper pollution free environment. We have installed modern technology