Economy & Market

TN builders protest hike in prices of cement, sand

Published

14 years ago

August 21, 2012

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Protesting the rising prices of cement and sand, the Builders Association of India (BAI) in Coimbatore proposes to stage a state-wide demonstration shorty, said said K. Viswanathan, national vice-president of BAI (southern region), in Coimbatore on August 21. The Association is to take out a rally and present a memorandum to officials concerned, he added.The Association alleges that the cement companies were creating an artificial demand to increase the price and want the situation corrected immediately.Despite there being a verdict from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) there seemed to be no control over the prices of cement, the Association said. The cement companies did not reduce prices despite the CCI order, it said. The Association, demanded formation of a cement regulatory authority.BAI, along with CREDAI, Indian Institute of Architects, Association of Licensed Building Surveyors, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers and Coimbatore Civil Engineers Association, would take out a rally from Anna statue to Red Cross building pressing to bring down the cost of cement and sandCurrently, the price of cement was Rs 330 per bag, up from around Rs 260-Rs 275 about six months ago. Similarly, the price of sand per unit had gone up to Rs 5,000, which was costing around Rs 3,000 for several years until a few months ago, the Association said.With respect to sand, the Association demanded that the PWD identify new riverbeds and allow mining. In such new sources, it will take at least six months to get environmental clearance. Hence, after identifying new sources, the State should help get clearance quickly, said Viswanathan said.

Concrete

WCA Welcomes SiloConnect as associate corporate member

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2026

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The World Cement Association (WCA) has announced SiloConnect as its newest associate corporate member, expanding its network of technology providers supporting digitalisation in the cement industry. SiloConnect offers smart sensor technology that provides real-time visibility of cement inventory levels at customer silos, enabling producers to monitor stock remotely and plan deliveries more efficiently. The solution helps companies move from reactive to proactive logistics, improving delivery planning, operational efficiency and safety by reducing manual inspections. The technology is already used by major cement producers such as Holcim, Cemex and Heidelberg Materials and is deployed across more than 30 countries worldwide.

Concrete

TotalEnergies and Holcim Launch Floating Solar Plant in Belgium

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2026

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TotalEnergies and Holcim have commissioned a floating solar power plant in Obourg, Belgium, built on a rehabilitated former chalk quarry that has been converted into a lake. The project has a generation capacity of 31 MW and produces around 30 GWh of renewable electricity annually, which will be used to power Holcim’s nearby industrial operations. The project is currently the largest floating solar installation in Europe dedicated entirely to industrial self-consumption. To ensure minimal impact on the surrounding landscape, more than 700 metres of horizontal directional drilling were used to connect the solar installation to the electrical substation. The project reflects ongoing collaboration between the two companies to support industrial decarbonisation through renewable energy solutions and innovative infrastructure development.

Concrete

Cortec® Corporation applauded for its strong safety performance

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2026

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Cortec® Corporation has been recognised for its strong safety performance, receiving its sixth Governor’s Workplace Safety Award for its outstanding performance in 2025. As a Silver Achievement recipient, the company continues to maintain safety metrics well above national industry averages, an impressive accomplishment for a chemical manufacturing organisation. This achievement reflects Cortec’s proactive approach to workplace safety, focused on early hazard detection and employee involvement. The company will be formally recognised at the Minnesota Safety and Health Conference in May, highlighting how industrial companies are effectively strengthening workplace safety standards.