Amid labour and supply shocks, brick prices up in Kashmir, construction costs sky high

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Srinagar: Amid Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant labour and supply shocks, brick kilns have raised the prices of bricks across Kashmir valley with one truckload of bricks costing around Rs 30, 000, as against the usual price of Rs 18,000 per 3,000 bricks.

House makers in Kashmir are worried that in many instances “B Grade” bricks are being sold as “A Grade” at a price of around Rs 30, 000 per 3000 bricks. Consequently, construction costs, both for private constructions and public works, have gone up significantly in Kashmir.

On the other hand, brick kiln owners maintain that they have suffered huge losses from the last two years and due to Covid-19 they couldn’t make their brick kilns operational but had to pay the laborers for no work.

They also say that they operate their kilns on rented spaces and have to pay the land owners in all situations.

However, price rise may have another dimension to it: that is some stocks of bricks being withheld by certain kilns, thereby creating a supply-demand mismatch.

Some brick kiln owners from Budgam, who wished anonymity, said that as the administration was busy with Covid-19, some brick kiln owners, who have huge stock available with them, have “deliberately hoarded bricks to make greater money”.

They further said that the official rate per 3000 bricks is only Rs 18,000; but some brick kiln owners are taking undue advantage of the lockdown and have started selling a truck-load of bricks at more than Rs 30, 000.

They also maintain that a brick kiln owner can make up for the loss by increasing the amount to Rs. 4,000 but not to Rs 30,000 per 3000 bricks.

Meanwhile, district magistrate Budgam has warned the owners not to indulge in unfair trade practices and overcharging.

In an order he said that strict action, as warranted under law, shall be initiated against those brick makers who are found involved in charging exorbitant rates for construction materials like bricks, sand , stones and other related material.

—(KNO)