The Supreme Court of India lifted a ban on construction activity in the New Delhi-NCR region between 6am and 6pm.
A ban was in place following the Indian capital’s pollution levels touching “poor” and “severe” levels, according to the pollution prevention authority in November.
A major impact will be seen in domestic long steel prices, which are expected to rise by Rs500/mt in the near term, mainly in the secondary market. Similarly, primary players may also increase steel prices by Rs1,000/mt in January 2020, considering an uptick in domestic demand.
Few primary steel players hiked prices by Rs500-1,000/mt for first-week of December deliveries
Despite the factors for pollution being mainly stubble burning in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the apex court had halted construction activity around Delhi as well.
Post Diwali, rebar mills based in the NCR region were closed, but have now re-opened.
A rebar mill owner based in Delhi said, “The decision lifting the ban on construction activity will provide much us with much relief and we are expecting to get orders from construction companies now.”
The mill in question, shut for the past 15 days, has resumed production.