AHMEDABAD, Nov 23: The gur control order, imposed by the Centre on October 27 last in order to check disproportionate diversion of sugar to gur (jaggery) and its rising prices, is likely to be lifted by December-end with the arrival of fresh stock.

The indication was given by Javed Choudhary of department of sugar and edible oils, ministry of food and consumer affairs, to a delegation of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) which met him in the capital recently, according to GCCI secretary in Kania.

Choudhary said the order was to be imposed to ensure the below average production of sugar in the country this year did not aggravate the deficit situation.

Gujarat had reasons to oppose the control as it consumed 40 per cent of total gur produced in the country. The state, however, produced hardly 10 per cent of the total gur production, he said.

The newly sworn-in chief minister Dilip Parikh had requested prime minister IK Gujral to either rescind the order or exempt Gujarat from its purview in the interest of small producers, traders and consumers, the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.