Neten Dorji

Ugyen Wangchuk wanted to construct a house.  That was a year ago.  But now that the prices of building materials have increased, his resolve is becoming weaker by the day.

“The price of iron rods has increased significantly (Nu 53 per kg).  Sand and gravel too have become very expensive,” said Ugyen Wangchuk.  His plan now is to procure iron rods directly from Pasakha.

Pelden Sherub from Doksum, Trashiyangtse, said that the market price of iron bar stands at Nu 60 per kg today; it was Nu 49 per kg about four months ago.

The cost of a truckload of sand, he said, had reached Nu 4,000. “The cost of pebbles has increased to Nu 15,000 per tripper from Nu 13,000.”

The price of cement, however, has not changed so far.

With the price of iron growing in the international market, contractors predict that the price rise could keep shooting up.

A Doksum-based hardware owner, Uygen Sonam, said the price rise was from the source in India. “Demand for construction materials goes up during the winter and so does the price.”

A source in Pasakha said that price of iron rods had increased due to shortage of raw materials. “The cost of raw materials has shot up to Nu 53,000 from Nu 42,000 per metric tonne.”

A contractor said that price rise of sand and pebbles, however, was unnatural. “There should be a rigid price control and regulation.”

Transportation of goods too has become expensive.

“Transportation cost has increased to Nu 35,000 from Nu 27,000 from Phuentsholing,” a contractor said.