Kerala has increased cement production in PSUs to lower the cost of construction. At present, 90 per cent of the cement market is controlled by private companies. P Rajeev, Kerala Industries and Law Minister, announced in the state assembly that the government would increase cement production in PSUs to lower construction material prices in the state. In response to a motion by MLA Sunny Joseph, the minister said the state produces only 10 per cent of the cement it requires, whereas private companies outside the state control 90 per cent of the cement market. He added that Malabar Cements, a government-owned company, manufactures and sells cement at a lower cost than private companies. The state government has taken steps to increase the production of Malabar Cement and intervene in price increases. Travancore Cements, another PSU, has included an increase in white cement, wall putty and grey cement production in its master plan. The government will also establish raw material banks under the micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) clusters, according to the minister. He mentioned that the shortage of building materials and the need to address the steep price increase of building materials have come to the attention of the government, and that the pandemic has aggravated the situation. Cement, iron, PVC pipes, M-sand, P-sand and other construction materials have seen a rise in prices as the price of raw materials has increased.The problems have been exacerbated by rising petroleum prices and a coal shortage. The minister also said that the cost of transporting cement from other states has contributed to the price increase. He shared that the state government had called a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the price hike and asked them to lower prices to affordable levels. The government initiative will give relaxation to the quarrying industry to help it get through the crisis.