The Hindu Business Line : Panels to look into essential commodities price spiral

Hyderabad, April 17 The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to constitute two committees, consisting of three ministers each, to look into the soaring prices of essential commodities.

“The main issue, taken up during the Cabinet meeting, was on the increase in the prices of essential commodities, like pluses, edible oil, vegetables and cement and how to control this increase. The Government wants to check the rise so that these essential commodities are available at a fair price to all,” Mr Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Minister for Information and Public Relations, said while addressing a press conference after a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.

The committees have been asked by the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to submit a report in two or three days.

“While one Group of Ministers (GoM) consisting of the State Finance Minister, Minister of Commercial Taxes and Minister for Housing will look into the hike in cement prices, the other consisting of the State Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Marketing and Civil Supplies Minister will look into the hike in prices of pulses, edible oil and vegetables,” he said.

Commodity access

Mr Reddy added that in the next two months, the State is looking at making available tur dal and edible oils at fair price shops to all those who have a white card. “We are also ready to talk to the trader associations if necessary. Also the Essential Commodities Act is being amended, to treat as cognisable any offence that results in artificial scarcity of rice, edible oil, gas and kerosene in order to curtail price rise,” he said.

The Cabinet also decided and has told the marketing officials concerned to strengthen the Rythu Bazaars to ensure availability of vegetables and other items.

“The Chief Minister has also instructed the Agriculture Minister to look into how the production of vegetables can be increased in the State. If necessary the Government is ready to give added incentives so that farmers can increase the production,” Mr Reddy said.

Cabinet decisions

The Cabinet has also decided to bring an ordinance to extend the tenure of the persons incharge of the Rural Co-operative Electrical Society till March 2009.

“The Cabinet has also given its nod to appoint 77 officers posted in various departments for the hydrology project of the Ground Water Department so that there is no additional burden on the Government. It has also been decided to allot seven acres of land in Mypadu village of Indukurpet Mandal in Nellor district, to Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation at Rs 1 lakh an acre — to develop a tourism project,” Mr Reddy said.

The proposal for the creation of Andhra Pradesh Sports Development Fund in line with the National Sports Development Fund also got the Cabinet nod.

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