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New Centre-state panel to monitor commodities

Faced with unusual shortages and high prices of essential commodities, the government today decided to set up a permanent Centre-state body for advance assessment of deficit and surpluses of agricultural commodities and recommend imports and exports accordingly.

This is the outcome of the special meeting of state chief secretaries, called in New Delhi today by Cabinet Secretary Prabhat Kumar under instructions from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The meeting also decided on a number of short and medium- term steps to tackle the price situation and to ensure availability of essential items throughout the country.

Following are the major decisions taken today: ban on export of onions has been extended till January, 1999. Restrictions on the inter-state movement of essential commodities has been lifted. The government will set up a national forecasting centre for agriculture products.

Steps would be taken to increase storage capacities including cold storage. The distribution machinery in the states and Union Territories would be tightened with an object to minimise the scope for any kind of diversion of stocks. A study group will be set up to identify measures required to meet the needs of north-east states and island territories regarding the supply of essential commodities.

State governments have been given flexibility to exempt any edible oil from the provisions of compulsory packaging order. Stringent action would be taken against hoarders and black marketeers under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act. In order to improve the country's storage technology for agriculture products, the ministry of agriculture will set up a high level expert.

UNI

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