'Concrete' plea by International Peace and Social Advancement
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 04, 2013:
International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) has appealed to all cement dealers not to adulterate cement but deal in only standard or high quality cements.
Speaking to media persons at their office today, IPSA president Elangbam Johnson appealed to all cement dealers to sell cements which have the standard comprehensive strength of 33 Newton per square mm in accordance to IS 8112-1989. Driven by a suspicion that some cement brands being sold in Manipur do not have the standard comprehensive strength, sale and purchase of Valley Strong cement brand manufactured by Barak Valley Cement Limited was banned on March 15 this year.
Five bags of Strong Valley cement were sent to Manipur Institute of Technology for comprehensive strength test.
The five bags were found to have comprehensive strength of 7 N/mm2, 9 N/mm2, 9.6 N/mm2, 9.6 N/mm2 and 8 N/mm2 respectively which are much below the standard strength of 33 N/mm2, Johnson said.
In accordance to an understanding between the said company and IPSA, dealership licence of the particular dealer which adulterated the cement was cancelled permanently.
It was also agreed to pack cement in bags of different colour which are meant for sale in Manipur and also to emboss the cement bags with the words �Only for Sale in Manipur'.
Adulteration of cement is very risky for the people of Manipur as the State is located in high seismic zone.
As such, IPSA would test comprehensive strength of all cement brands being sold in Manipur, Johnson added.