Cell in Cabinet Secretariat to keep a watch on price situation

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today the Centre has decided to set up a special Monitoring Cell in the Cabinet Secretariat, in addition to the existing institutional mechanisms in various Ministries, to keep a watch on the price situation and provide support to State governments.

In a letter to Chief Ministers of all the states, the Prime Minister said ''the State governments can approach the Cell directly for any issue requiring quick resolution and for removing any bottlenecks in the availability of essential commodities.'' Dr Singh said the major commodities which have contributed to difficulties for the common man ''included pulses, edible oils, wheat and milk.'' The price rise has also been affected by the ''increase in prices of several manufactured commodities, like cement, critical for the fulfilment of housing needs.'' Alarmed at the unabated rise in prices, Dr Singh asked Chief Ministers to put in place ''an appropriate mechanism for regular intensive monitoring of commodity prices and take prompt action to check inflation.'' Stating that the increase in prices of some commodities has been ''fuelled by speculation in the market,'' Dr Singh called for keeping a ''watch on the activities of anti-social elements who may indulge in speculation and profiteering.'' UNI