Farm Ministry not for sugar buffer

The Agriculture Ministry has opposed the Food Ministry’s proposal seeking creation of a buffer stock of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar on the ground that it would result in “unnecessary” diversion from the Sugar Development Fund (SDF), which is meant to promote allround development of the industry. The Food Ministry, in its note to the Cabinet, has proposed financing the buffer stock out of the SDF. The estimated cost of maintaining a 10-lakh tonne buffer for one year is around Rs 200 crores. The plea for immediate creation of buffer comes in the wake of the sharp increase in sugar production this season.

Concept Paper on PSU revamp soon

The Union Ministry of Industry will soon be coming out with a ‘Concept Paper’ spelling out the mechanism of the proposed restructuring of the public sector as enunciated in the United Front’s common minimum programme (CMP). The job of preparing the paper has been entrusted to the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) in the Ministry which is going about its task in consultation with the chairmen and managing directors (CMDs) of the various public sector undertakings under its administrative control.

Work at Alamatti dam continues

Work at the Alamatti dam, which has become a politically-sensitive issue of national importance, is continuing as usual. The dam site in the Bijapur district of Karnataka remains calm and shows no sign of the turmoil it has been creating in the national political scene. The increase in the height of the Alamatti dam has become a matter for disagreement between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

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