In order to provide cement to consumer sat reasonable rates, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to bring it within the purview of the Essential Commodities Act. This will enable consumers to purchase it at reasonable rates. The issue had been debated at length by the State Assembly and all the members had opined that cement prices in the State needed to be rationalized with the intervention of the State government for protecting consumer’s interests. A rise had been observed in construction activities in the private and public sector and its higher price was hurting the common man.