Govt to monitor prices of more commodities
NEW DELHI: The government is considering to expand the list of food-commodities currently monitored by it, a top official from ministry of consumer affairs said today.
"We are exploring the possibilities of monitoring the prices of more commodities. At present, we are monitoring the prices of 21 commodities such as rice, wheat, pulses, edible oils and some vegetables," Department of Consumer Affairs Secretary Rajesh Agarwal told reporters on the sideline of an event here.
Prices of certain vegetables such as tomato and onions have skyrocketed in past few weeks, pushing food inflation to an uncomfortable level of 15. 57 per cent for the week ended on Januart 15, 2011.
The government has announced various measures to check the growing food prices in the country which includes banning the export of onions and allowing its duty free imports.
Besides this, there were also proposal of banning future trade in certain commodities and also expanding the list of commodities, whose prices are monitored by the government.
Asked about the proposal for banning futures trade in certain commodities, he said, "Currently, goverment is not considering any proposal to ban future trade in any commodity immediately."
Agarwal, however, declined to comment further on issue saying that, the decision to ban any commodity would be taken by the commodity exchange regulator Forward Market Commission .
"We are exploring the possibilities of monitoring the prices of more commodities. At present, we are monitoring the prices of 21 commodities such as rice, wheat, pulses, edible oils and some vegetables," Department of Consumer Affairs Secretary Rajesh Agarwal told reporters on the sideline of an event here.
Prices of certain vegetables such as tomato and onions have skyrocketed in past few weeks, pushing food inflation to an uncomfortable level of 15. 57 per cent for the week ended on Januart 15, 2011.
The government has announced various measures to check the growing food prices in the country which includes banning the export of onions and allowing its duty free imports.
Besides this, there were also proposal of banning future trade in certain commodities and also expanding the list of commodities, whose prices are monitored by the government.
Asked about the proposal for banning futures trade in certain commodities, he said, "Currently, goverment is not considering any proposal to ban future trade in any commodity immediately."
Agarwal, however, declined to comment further on issue saying that, the decision to ban any commodity would be taken by the commodity exchange regulator Forward Market Commission .
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