New Delhi: Nearly 75,000 tonnes of pulses have been seized from hoarders in raids across 13 states.
In order to assess the availability of imported pulses, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday held two rounds of meetings, first with importers and later with officials of ministries concerned.
The Cabinet Secretary also reviewed the prices situation and dehoarding measures being taken by the state governments.
Importers during the meeting with the Finance Minister offered to supply 1 lakh kg of imported tur dal at Rs 135 per kg on daily basis to government agencies, while demanding exemptions from stock holding limit on them.
“Raids to check hoarding are continuing in various states. Today, four states reported that they have seized 15,335.95 tonnes of pulses, mostly imported tur dal,” a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.
About 7,033 tonnes of lentils were seized from Maharashtra, 5,487 tonnes from Karnataka, 2,051 tonnes from Rajasthan and 764 tonnes from Haryana, a statement said.
“As a result of action taken by states, there has been a decrease of about Rs 200/quintal in mandi rates in Mumbai and also in futures trading of chana,” the statement said.
Retail prices of pulses have also declined in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, it added.
As per the Consumer Affairs Ministry’s data, retail price of tur dal is as high as Rs 210/kg, urad Rs 190/kg, moong dal Rs 130/kg, masoor dal Rs 110/kg and gram Rs 85/kg.
After the meeting with Jaitley, Mumbai-based Indian Pulses and Grains Association Chairman Praveen Dongre said: “Pulses prices will come down only if there is smooth availability of imported dals. Therefore, pulses imports and importers should be exempted from the stock holding limit.”
Meanwhile Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the centre is taking steps to quell the crisis through imports and asked the JD(U)-led state government to act against hoarders to provide succour to the people.
“The production of pulses declined, nationally and globally. Pulses production declined by 5 million tonnes this year in the country, which was further aggravated by hoarding. The central government is taking steps to contain the prices and that includes importing pulses,” Jaitley said.
Announcing that 12 state governments had acted against hoarders and recovered 50,000 tonnes of pulses stocked illegally, he said that Bihar would “benefit” if action was taken against hoarders in the state.
“If Bihar government acts against hoarders, people of the state would be benefited,” he added.