Fixation of price by State Government in consultation with Committee.

(1) The State Government shall, after consultation with the Committee and having regard to the factors specified in sub-section (3), fix in respect of each class of minor forest produce, the price at which such produce shall be purchased by it or by an authorised officer or by an agent from growers of that produce in the year following the year in which the price is fixed: Provided that the price at which such produce shall be purchased in the period commencing on the appointed day and ending on the 31st December, 1979 by the State Government or by an authorised officer or by an agent from growers of that produce shall be fixed by the State Government and shall be published in such manner as may be prescribed before such produce is so purchased. (2) The price fixed under sub-section (1) shall be published in the Official Gazette and in such other manner as may be prescribed, not later than the 31st day of December of the year in which it is fixed, and the price so fixed shall not be altered during the year to which it relates: Provided that where the Committee fails to tender advice within the period specified under sub-section (3) of section 7 or such further period not exceeding fifteen days as the State Government may allow, the State Government may fix the price without such advice. (3) For the purpose of fixing the price of any minor forest produce under sub-section (1), the State Government shall have regard to the following factors, namely:- (a) the price, if any, fixed under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force, for the concerned minor forest produce in the unit during the preceding three or two years or one year, as the case may be, for which such price may have been fixed, and where no such price may have been fixed for any such year or years the price for the concerned minor forest produce prevailing in the year in which the price is fixed or such price as would have prevailed, in the unit during the next succeeding year, (b) the quality of the minor forest produce, (c) the transport facilities available. (d) the cost of transport, (e) the general level of wages for unskilled labour prevalent in the unit, and (f) such other factors as may be prescribed.