Mumbai, 4: Chief Minister Manohar Joshi announced the decision on Wednesday in a press conference held at Hotel Oberoi. ``The state cabinet couldn't make a policy decision about allowing mill owners to sell the land. But considering various cases pending with the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction and different courts on the issue, the cabinet has taken the decision in case of four mills only. The earlier government had given them permission to sell land and the cabinet decided to upheld the same. At the same time, the government won't allow the owners to sell land by flouting the existing rules,'' Joshi said. He added the government was still working on the ``One Fourth'' formula for sale of excess mill land.

Bread likely to cost more

After the skyrocketing prices of onion, potato and other vegetables, the common man is likely to face increase in prices of bread.

Pav-ladi, comprising eight pavs, which is being sold at Rs 4currently in Mumbai, is likely to cost more due to the steep increase in prices of maida, firewood, edible oils and vanaspati in the recent past, which had become a issue of survival for the bakery industry, industry sources said.

Shyam Pokle, vice-president of Bombay Bakers' Association said bakers hardly increase bread prices. They prefer to hike prices of other bakery products like toasts, sandwiches and butter, so that lower-class people aren't affected. But increase in water charges and electricity has put extra burden on bakers, Pokle said.

According to Pokle, prices of a maida bag (90 kg) have gone up to Rs 870-880 from Rs 700 per bag in the last two months. Similarly, loose oil, priced at Rs 38 per kg, had gone up to Rs 45-46 per kg. Firewood cost Rs 170-180 per quintal, as against the earlier price of Rs 150.

To avoid increase in bread prices, Pokle suggested the government should make wheat and maida available at concessional rates with immediate effect.