The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Centre to discuss rising cement prices with manufacturers tomorrow

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Centre to discuss rising cement prices with manufacturers tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Ashwani Kumar says steps have been taken to roll back prices to reasonable levels

Union Minister of State for Industries Ashwani Kumar

BANGALORE: Perturbed by increasing inflation and prices of steel, cement, foodgrains and other essential commodities in the country and the possible impact on the voters in the State, the Union Minister of State for Industries Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday said that steps had been taken to roll back prices to reasonable levels.

Speaking to presspersons here, he said that with steps being taken by the Union Government, inflation would be reduced at least by one per cent resulting in the fall of prices in the coming eight to 10 weeks.

He warned that action would be initiated against manipulators, hoarders and black-marketers.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have written to all Chief Ministers and Governors asking them to rein in artificial scarcity and take up de-hoarding drive in their States. Any effort at cartelisation in these items would be curbed. There was no question of going back to the licence and permit raj, he added.

Mr. Ashwani Kumar, a former Solicitor General of India, ruled out any dilution in the public distribution system (PDS) aimed at helping those living below poverty line, especially in Karnataka. Instead, the Minister said, that the PDS would be strengthened by giving subsidies. He said that his Ministry had convened a meeting of cement manufacturers in New Delhi on Thursday to bring down the prices of cement.

He also said that all aberrations such as stopping of the Golden Quadrilateral works by the National Highway Authority of India in the State, with the advent of the United Progressive Alliance Government to power at the Centre, would be rectified after the Assembly elections in the State.

Unlike the Congress, which stood for stability and national security and which aimed to achieve socio-economic development, and promote secularism and social harmony, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance had a dismal record when it ruled the country.

Mr. Ashwani Kumar said that Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had not replied to the notice issued to him by the Election Commission of India following his remark on implementing the 4,000 mw ultra mega thermal power plant at Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district and sanctioning another project of equal capacity, if Congress were voted to power.

Mr. Shinde was in the process of sending his reply, he added.

The former Legislative Council Chairman and party spokesman for elections, V.R. Sudarshan, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary T.V. Maruthi were present.

Five questions

Mr. Sudarshan posed five questions to the BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa, who held the finance portfolio in the H.D. Kumaraswamy Government, for allegedly not implementing the Prime Minister’s Vidarbha package in Karnataka.

He also asked Mr. Yeddyurappa why he did not implement the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and utilise the funds benefiting farmers as per the agricultural policy of the coalition Government and failed to give representation to women in the Cabinet.

What was the guarantee that Mr. Yeddyurappa would not switch loyalties, if he were offered money and position in the government by other parties? he asked.

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