The government today said it is planning to set up a high-level committee to study the factors behind price rise and recommend ways to control the same.
"A core group on prices of essential commodities is proposed to be constituted," Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
According to the trade data, retail price of sugar is currently ruling at Rs 41-42 a kg in the national capital, while some pulses are available at Rs 75-80 per kg.
Rice is ruling at Rs 18-20 a kg, it added.
Prices of sugar have more than doubled in the past one year, while that of rice, pulses and edible oil prices have also increased substantially owing to demand and supply gap.
The minister said in a separate reply that production of foodgrain is lower than the projected demand for 2009-10.
"During 2009-10, the delayed/deficient monsoon and drought in various parts of the country had adverse impact on production during Kharif season as a result of which, the estimated production of foodgrain during 2009-10 is lower than the projected demand," the minister said.
Thomas said that total foodgrain production in the current Kharif season is lower at 216.85 million tonnes (MT), against the projected demand of 224.04 MT.
The minister said that rice supplies are expected to be down at 87.56 MT, against the requirement of 94.83 MT.
Similarly, coarse grains availability is expected to be lower at 34.27 MT compared with the demand of 36.65 MT this year. While sugar availability is pegged at 16 MT this year as against the demand of 23 MT, he said.
However, wheat supplies would higher at 80.28 MT than the estimated demand of 74.26 MT this year, he added.
