Bill to curb malpractices in wheat trading soon; Pawar

Mumbai, June 25 (UNI) Union Minister for Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies Sharad Pawar today said the government will introduce a bill in the next Parliament session to curb malpractices in wheat futures trading.

''Future trading in wheat will be allowed, while the government will bring out a legislation to curb malpractices in the activity,'' he told mediapersons after inagurating the central laboratory of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) at Navi Mumbai, 40 km from here.

''Trading in wheat futures is a globally accepted phenomenon, therefore India has also decided to allow it,'' Mr Pawar said.

Inaugurating the MPCB laboratory equipped with latest technology and equipments, Mr Pawar emphasised the need to provide pure drinking water to population as majority of the people around the country consume impure water.

The Minister recalled that there was also a debate in Parliament about the purity of soft drink brands like 'Coca-Cola'. Subsequently, a committee was appointed under his leadership to conduct the study to find out the purity of the brand.

''The committee has come out with some conclusions in regards to the purity of drinking water in soft drinks and general consumption.

The new legislation in this regard is likely to come with effect from August-September this year,'' he said.

The Minister stressed that once the law comes into effect, corporations and local governing bodies would have to work hard to implement the law in their respective juridictions.

Mr Pawar also attended the laying ceremony of drinking water pipeline from Kalamboli to Digha.

UNI ST PM VD1729