Ban on Single use plastic straw: HPMC 

State Public sector fruit juices brand Himachal Frucessing & Marketing Corporation (HPMC) decided on Tuesday to hike the whole sale price of its products after withdrawing single used plastic straw from its 200 ml tetrapack. This was approved in the meeting of HPMC Board of Directors (BOD) held in Shimla on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Horticulture Minister Mahinder Singh Thakur. According to HPMC a Officer it would not affect retail price of tetrapack as increase would not be reflected on the MRP.  “HPMC has decided to increase the prices due to cost of packing material and cost of plastic straws.  It is being told that the cost of paper straw is three to four times. Since union and state government decided ban the single use plastic with effect from July 1, 2022, BOD also decided to biodegradable straw replacing plastic straw being used by the firm. The hike in prices was attributed to the decision and wholesale prices of the juice will be increased.  This will not affect the customers, but the margin of wholesale juicers will be less.Government undertaking HPMC itself prepares various fruit juices and gets its packing done by Patanjali. The MRP of 100 per cent apple juice in 200 ml packing is Rs 25, while the MRP of one liter packing apple juice is Rs 130. Similarly mango, litchi guava juice is currently priced at Rs 20 per pack. BOD also issued  Instructions to expedite the work of  Parala fruit Processing unit so that the remaining work of Plant could be start soon. HPMC in Parala is building a processing plant under the Rs 1134 crore World Bank project.Apart from apple juice, various products made from apples are to be produced and manufacture in plant. Under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) HPMC approved to employe 150 outsource employees in view of apple season however services of outsource employees to be used by the corporation  for four to five months every year during the apple season.