Govt to import 5,000 tonne of tur dal to check prices

With retail prices of pulses shooting up to Rs 155 a kg, the government on Friday decided to import additional 5,000 tonnes of tur dal to boost domestic availability. It also directed state-owned MMTC to expedite import of 10,000 tonnes of lentils that was tendered earlier. "At a high-level meeting, we have decided to import additional 5,000 tonnes of tur dal. MMTC will float a global tender in this regard soon," Consumer Affairs Secretary C Viswanath told PTI. The imported dals will help increase availability and cool down retail prices, he added. Meanwhile, the government has directed the MMTC to expedite import of 10,000 tonnes of tur and urad dals and requested the state governments to gear up for distribution of pulses through retail outlets.

"MMTC has assured that the shipment of 10,000 tonnes of pulses will arrive soon," Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The state trading firm has also been asked to get in touch with the state governments as well as Mother Dairy for supply of imported dals through retail outlets. An inter-ministerial committee, headed by Consumer Affairs Secretary, is keeping a close watch on availability of essential commodities and monitoring of prices, it added.

The direction to the MMTC comes in the backdrop of sharp increase in retail prices of pulses in the last few weeks due to fall in domestic output in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) in view of poor monsoon. Barring chana dal, retail prices of all pulses are ruling above Rs 100/kg across the country. The maximum increase in prices has been seen in tur and urad dal.

Tur prices are ruling highest in Chennai at Rs 145/kg, at Rs 135/kg in Mumbai and Rs 132/kg in Delhi and Kolkata, as per the official data. Similarly, urad is costing more in Chennai at Rs 125/kg, whereas in Mumbai it is available at Rs 121/kg and at Rs 112/kg in Delhi and at Rs 102/kg in Kolkata. Highlighting other measures taken to check prices of pulses, the government said stock limits have been imposed on lentils and state governments have been asked to take strict action against hoarding, using existing provisions under the Essential Commodities Act.

Besides, future trading in pulses like urad and tur has already been suspended and its export has been banned. There is tight supply of pulses in the country because of fall in domestic production to 17.38 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.25 MT in the previous crop year, due to poor monsoon. India imports about four MT of pulses largely through private trade.

But this time, the government has started importing pulses after a gap of two years.