EGoM on food to meet tomorrow to discuss high food prices

NEW DELHI: An Empowered Group of Ministers on Food is scheduled to meet here tomorrow and is likely to review prices of essential commodities and also discuss imposition of import duty on sugar.

The EGoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, may also take up the issue of increasing the central issue price (CIP) of sugar sold through ration shops, sources said.

The Food Ministry had proposed an increase of Rs 4 per kg to Rs 17.50 per kg in the CIP of sugar through public distribution system.

The EGoM would also deliberate upon allocating additional quota of wheat and rice through PDS and open market sale scheme in order to provide relief to people from high food prices, they added.

The meeting is being held in the backdrop of high prices of vegetables, especially onion, tomato and garlic.

Even the food inflation has soared to 12.13 per cent for the week ended December 11.

Early last week, onion prices had doubled to Rs 70-85 per kg in retail market in major cities across the country. Tomato and garlic also added extra burden on the pockets of consumers.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar is also scheduled to review prices of essential commodities tomorrow with secretaries of key ministries, including agriculture and consumer affairs.

The secretaries would also review the prices of milk, egg, fish and meat in the domestic market and is expected to take action to check high prices.