By Sudhir Kumar / New Delhi
In a bid to keep prices of pulses in check, the Department of Consumer Affairs asks importers of pulses to mandatorily declare available stocks.
The Centre has issued an advisory for mandatory stock disclosure of Masoo or Lentil with immediate effect. All the stakeholders should mandatorily disclose their stock on the stock disclosure portal managed by the Department of Consumer Affairs every Friday.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a statement said that any undisclosed stock if found, will be considered as hoarding and suitable action would be initiated.
Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Rohit Kumar Singh said that during the weekly price review meeting has instructed the department to broad-based the lentil buffer procurement. The objective is to procure available stocks at prices around the MSP. He said that at the time when lentil import flow increases from Canada and Tur imports from African countries, few players are trying to manipulate the market against the interest of the consumers and the Nation. He said, the Government is watching the developments very closely and would initiate stringent measures to get the stock released into the market so that availability of all pulses at reasonable prices in the festival season is ensured.