Panel to look into problems

The government has set up a committee under the chairmanship of former adviser to the finance minister Mr Vijay Kelkar to examine in detail all the problems being faced by the sugar industry.

The committee, which would include experts and government officials as members, would set out a road map for rapid expansion and growth of the sugar industry and suggest measures for a developing a more transparent and open market place.

The sugar industry has seen fluctuating fortunes over the past few years with both periodical shortages and glut in production. The committee would also look into developing a more transparent system of sugar buffer stocks that takes care of market volatilities.

The other members of the committee include agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, AV Birla group chief economist Ajit Ranade and Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) chairman T Haque.