In a bid to check rising prices of essential commodities, the centre has allowed duty-free import of pulses, abolished special additional duty on vanaspati inputs, and asked state-procurement agencies to hike imports of onions.The meeting of the group of ministers chaired by prime minister AB Vajyapee to review the prices situation also decided to step up anti-hoarding measures. The situation will be monitored on a regular basis by the cabinet committee on prices and a committee to be headed by the cabinet secretary, which will meet every week.
Soon after the group's first meeting, finance minister Yashwant Sinha told newsmen that the 10 per cent import duty on pulses would be lifted besides putting the item under open general licence.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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