Cement companies fixing prices: MRTPC

25 Jul 2007

The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), under the Department of Company Affairs, has issued a notice to 14 cement companies for cartelisation to fix prices, including ACC, India Cements, Ambuja Cement, JK Cement and others.

The MRTPC has ordered a probe into the business practices of the cement industry. There are allegations that cement manufacturers have acted in a cartel, and colluded to hike prices. However, Anil Singhvi, a partner at Notz Stucki, maintained that there was no substance whatsoever for the MRTPC notice. R G Bagla, Group Executive President at JK Cements, has also categorically denied the possibility of cartelisation. He said JK Cements had not received any notice from the MRTPC so far.

The case will come up for hearing on 25 October. The government says that it has prima facie proof of cartelisation in the cement industry.