Prime minister sets up expert panel on sugar decontrol

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced the setting up of an expert committee to examine issues relating to the decontrol of sugar industry.

The committee, headed by Dr C Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, will look into all issues relating to de-regulation of the sugar sector and report to the prime minister.

The committee has been asked to complete its task and submit its recommendations as early as possible.

The ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution will provide necessary support to the committee in discharging its functions.

Besides Rangarajan, the committee includes chief economic adviser in the ministry of finance Dr Kaushik Basu, secretaries to the department of food and public distribution and the department of agriculture, Committee on Agricultural Costs and Prices head Dr Ashok Gulati, former secretary of the department of food and public distribution and the department of agriculture and cooperation and presently member of the National Disaster Management Authority Nand Kumar and EAC secretary Dr KP Krishnan, who will be the convener.

The committee has been authorised to involve such experts, academics as required as special invitees.