India: cement dealers in the state will go on an indefinite strike

The agitation, spearheaded by Kerala Cement Dealers Association, is likely to severely affect infrastructural development activities in the state.

According to the association State president Sojan Scaria, the State government had unnecessarily included cement among notified goods even when there was no shortage of cement.

As a result, cement dealers have had to shoulder additional burden for procuring it. In addition, certain officials continued to demand amounts that were double the tax amount to be paid by cement dealers.

Although the association had conveyed its concerns to the chief minister, finance minister and the commercial tax commissioner no measures were taken. Cement dealers had ceased to purchase cement from 10 November.