Cost of bread goes up in Bengal

Kolkata, Aug 27 (UNI) All types of bread, including machine and hand made, will be costlier in West Bengal from September 3.

This was announced by secretary, Joint Action Committee of West Bengal Backers' Association, Idris Ali at a press conference here today.

He said abnormal rise in prices of raw materials like flour and sugar, besides that of diesel and plastic bags by several times during the past few months had forced them to increase the cost of bread by about ten per cent or at the rate of 30 paise per slice of hand made bread with effect from September three.

As a result, Mr Ali said the minimum cost of every 400 gram of sliced bread would be increased by Re 1 to Rs 1.20 to be priced at Rs 11 to Rs 13 for different categories, while the 100 gram of bread would be up by at least 30 paise to cost between Rs 2.50 and Rs 2.80.

Similarly the prices of cake and biscuits would also be increased, he said.

Armed with the latest statistics, Mr Ali said since December 2005, the cost of flour had gone up by Rs 450 per quintal, while sugar increased by Rs 300 per quintal, diesel by 12 per cent and polythine bag by 20 per cent, making it impossible for about 4,000-odd bakeries in the state to sell their products at the current rates any more.

He also criticised the role of the state government for allegedly not making any serious effort to prevent abnormal rise in prices of raw materials and said in the event of reduction of the cost in future, they would also slash the prices of bread accordingly.

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