Karnataka government amends APMC Act

Bangalore, Jan 11 (UNI) Following the instructions from the Union government Karnataka state cabinet government today decided bring amendments to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act opening up the sector for private sector.

Briefing newspersons after the cabinet meeting, Primary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti, said the proposed amendment for the APMC Act would ensure efficiency, transparency and help to the farming community who were allegedly exploited by the market forces.

He said that once amendment was brought to the act the farmers can sell their produces on their choice to anybody including to both APMC's and also private operators and there will be no market cess.

The state government would also receive financial assistance from the center to improve infrastructure facilities and ensure remunerative prices for the farming community, he said.

However, the amendments had caused protests from the trading community who had closed shop for a day last week.

Mr Horatti also informed that the cabinet also decided to form a group of ministers to find ways to tide-over the power crisis in the state. The cabinet sub-committee formed earlier under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had been withdrawn and the newly formed Group of Ministers consisting of Chief Minister, Home Minister, Power Minister, Medical Education minister and also Deputy Chief Minster will meet shortly and take a decision on meeting the power crisis.

The possibility of purchasing power from the neighbouring state Kerala was also being considered apart from announcing Load-shedding, he said.

Following threat of closing down of Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) in Bhadravathi by the Central Pollution Control Board the state decided to release Rs 24 crore for taking up modernisation of certain units. The pollution control board had warned of severe action against MPM for causing environmental hazards and suggested remedial measures.

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