Short-Sighted Solution

December 16, 1967 structural are generally quoting at a discount, while flat products command a substantial premium over JPC prices. Even the main producers are offering 'across the counter' discounts on light bars and structural They are also resorting to package deals making deliveries of scarce flat products to stockists conditional upon purchases of structural and bars. This is an indication of what JPC should have done while raising its prices without treading on so many toes. Flats could have borne a much higher rise and the increase for other products should have been more restrained. The Raj Committee had envisaged that JPC's price fixation would be governed primarily by market forces, but in fact JPC has hardly moved in this direction. True, it is handicapped because Durga- pur and Bhilai have no flat products to offer and selective price adjustments in favour of scarce materials would not benefit them. Unless Hindustan Steel takes an overall view in this regard, however, the problem will always elude solution.