The committee headed by the Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri is on the job to fond out ways to reduce prices of cement in Himachal Pradesh (HP), Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh informed the state assembly yesterday.

Trying to convince the Opposition over unbending high prices of cement in the state, Mr.  Virbhadra said that the government was in talks with cement companies to convince them to reduce cement prices in the state.

He acknowledged that cement companies located in Himachal Pradesh are selling it at higher prices in the state as compared with prices in other states.

Speaking on the issue, he added, "It's a serious concern.  A committee headed by the Industries minister is on the job."

Mr.  Virbhadra had to come forward to inform the assembly about the government's efforts to fix the issue, after Food & Civil Supplies Minister G S Bali failed to pacify the Opposition over the issue.

The Industries Minister informed the assembly that the government might extend the deadline for cement companies to commence their mega cement plants in Himachal Pradesh as they failed to finish the job within the prescribed time-frame.

Himachal Pradesh has four mega cement plants, viz.  ACC at Barmana; Ambuja at Darlaghat, CCI at Rajban; and Japypee Himachal Cement Ltd at Bagha.  The aggregate capacity of these plants is 11 million tones per year.