CCP not scheduled for today; official spokesperson

New Delhi, Apr 15 (UNI) An official spokesperson today said there was no meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) scheduled for today.

"Neither the agenda paper nor any notice has been circulated," the spoesperson said.

Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath expressed a similar view, saying there will be no meeting of the CCP today.

Speaking on the sidelines of a CII conference, Mr Nath denied any differences in the government on measures to bring down prices.

"There may be different points of views among different Departments of the government, but they will soon be harmonised," Mr Nath said.

The Minister also said there was no reduction in production of food or any other articles. The State governments need to ensure that supply side mechanism performs well.

Reports said as a result of the sharp differences between the Ministries of Commerce and Finance over measures to control spiralling steel prices, the government had postponed the meeting of the CCP slated for today.

They said the CCP was to go into the measures needed to check steel prices. These could include imposing an export duty and lowering excise on steel.

Official sources also denied that there were any differences between the Ministeries of Commerce and Finance on the issue.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the CCP will soon meet to take further measures to bring down prices.

''I do not know when the CCP will meet, but when it meets, I expect some measures,'' Mr Chidambaram told Reporters here.

Inflation rate touched a three year high of 7.41 per cent in late March, compelling a worried UPA government to take drastic steps to bring down the price rise. These included banning the export of non-basmati rice, edible oils and pulses and making imports of some commodities cheaper.

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