RAILWAYS- Devil Take the Hindmost

This year, the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), which includes representatives of the government, has recommended import of 3 lakh hales (of 180 kg each) of Egyptian cotton and 2 lakh bale? of Sudanese cotton. At the prevailing international prices, imports of thus magnitude would entail a foreign exchange expenditure of as much as Rs 250 crores. Already the Indo-Sudan agreement provides for imports of 125,000 bales of extra-long staple cotton from Sudan, The trade agreement with Egypt is also expected to be signed soon.