PM forms core group to deal with rising prices: Sources

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has formed a core group of Central ministers and state chief ministers to deal with rising prices, sources told CNBC-TV18. The core group, which was formed on Monday, will look at several issues.

 

First on the agenda is agricultural productivity and better implementation of the Essential Commodities Act. The group will also look at better delivery of essentials and warehousing.

 

Sources say Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar will represent the Centre in the group. Ten state chief ministers have also been invited to the core group.

 

Chief Ministers from Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra are to be part of the group. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Dr C Rangarajan, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisor Council (PMEAC), are to be special invitees.

 

The core group is likely to finalize the terms of reference shortly.

 

The Department of Agriculture is to be the nodal office for the core group.