Participating in the chief ministers conference convened by prime minister AB Vajpayee on Friday, the West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu demanded reintroduction of the special provisions of the Essential Commodities Act of 1981 which was allowed to lapse by the ruling BJP-coalition. He said that these provisions should be reintroduced in the winter session of the parliament without any dilution.

Kerala food minister E Chandrashekaran Nair and the West Bengal chief minister blamed large-scale exports of onion despite production shortfall for the sharp spurt in its prices. But Karnataka chief minister JH Patil resented the ban on exports of Bangalore Rose onions.

Andhra Pradesh chiefminister N Chandrababu Naidu said the export-import policy should be rationalised taking into account all relevant factors like demand and production to avoid either glut or shortage.

Karnataka chief minister JH Patel said, the government's decision to move edible oils out of the purview of the Edible Oil and Oilseeds and Pulses Storage Control Order 1977 had contributed to the price rise.

Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi said import of pulses and edible oil under open general license should continue until their prices ease in the domestic market.

Orissa chief minister JB Patnaik alleged that price fixation of free trade items under the Essential Commodities Act had largely been ineffective and suggested that it should be done at the production centres and wholesale trade points.

Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta called for regular trade between the north-eastern states and the neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh for the benefit of the people living in that region of thecountry.

Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal suggested that as and when the prices shoot up alarmingly, central agencies like Nafed should import or arrange bulk supply of commodities like onions and potatoes to the distribution agencies of states, besides marketing them directly from their outlets.