Cabinet clears new infrastructure projects

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday cleared implementation of various four-laning projects that would cost the exchequer over Rs 8,900 crore.

It also decided to de-reserve plastic items exclusively reserved for small scale industry and also increased the investment limit for SSI units manufacturing plastic articles from Rs1 crore to Rs 5 crore.

It approved to the National Policy on Petrochemicals Document besides constitution of Petrochemical Technology Upgradation Fund and a Plastic Development Council.

The Cabinet also decided to import 1.5 million tonne of pulses to meet the shortfall in domestic production and contain the rising prices of these commodities in the retail market. NAFED and State Trading Corporation (STC) would formulate market-wise strategies for the supply of the imported pulses across the country, Dasmunsi told reporters. Of the 1.5 mt, half of the quantity would be tur dal and moong dal.

The panel further ecided to set up a task force to suggest measures to ensure the availability of petrochemical feedstock at internationally competitive prices.