Srinagar, July 28:  The Divisional Administration has issued fresh rate list for bricks in Kashmir. The new rate is Rs 15,500 per 3000 bricks ex-kiln.
 The administration has asked the kiln owners to strictly adhere to newly rate list.
 The rates were fixed in a high level meeting on Friday held under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Samoon. Deputy Commissioners of other districts and members of JK Brick Makers Association were present.
  “After long deliberations and taking into consideration the cost incurred by kiln owners, inflation and increase in labour charges, it was decided that the rate of 3000 bricks will be Rs 15,500 excluding transport charges,” an official said. 
 Zahoor Ahmad, President JK Brick Makers Association said: “We are happy that the administration issued a fresh rate list in absence of which we were facing lot of inconvenience. The issue was lingering for last one year as we were pleading before the authorities to finalize the rates.”  
  “We will strictly follow the rate list and  if any  kiln owner violates the rate, it is his  own responsibility. The association will not be party to it,” he said, adding that they have assured the administration that the owners will adhere to the rate list in letter and spirit.
 However, the brick dealers alleged that the administration has once again failed in devising freight charges.
 “There is no prescribed freight charges which truck drivers will have to charge to customers from different areas,” they said.
 Interestingly, earlier the DC Budgam had sent a letter to transport department requesting the latter to fix transport charges for ferrying of bricks.
 But transport department, according to sources, has expressed its inability to fix the transport charges saying “the department is not concerned with freight.”
 To mention, the new rate will be applicable till July 2013.
 Pertinently, in the past Kiln owners had threatened to go on strike, after the administration had launched a crack down on them for violating the rate list.
 Earlier the rate for a truckload of bricks was Rs 13500. 
 In violation of the rate list, the kiln owners were selling the bricks at more than Rs 18000/truckload. 

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST