Govt weighs in cut in sugar import duty

The government on Thursday said it was looking into the possibility of a reduction in import duty on sugar to check prices and also assured it would not let the prices of sweetener and of chana dal to rise.

At present, there is a 40 per cent import duty on sugar.

Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government will soon start selling pulses through post offices.

“We will not allow prices of chana dal and sugar to rise. We have many ways to control rates,” Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of a Consumer Mela organised at Connaught Place in the national capital. “We are selling pulses through Mother Dairy and Kendriya Bahandar outlets. Now, we have decided to sell pulses through post offices. We will soon run pilot project at 100 places,” he said.

Paswan said the government is monitoring the prices of all essential commodities including chana dal and sugar and will take measures to check prices. He warned hoarders to offload stock in the market. Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande said the possibility of reducing import duty on sugar is being “examined”. On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha reviewed the availability and the prices of essential commodities and asked the Department of Consumer Affairs to consider all options to check the prices of chana dal and sugar.