AMN /
Government has imposed stock limits on pulses held by importers, exporters, licensed food processors and large departmental retailers to prevent its hoarding.
Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry in a release said, the Central Order under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 has been amended with immediate effect to increase the availability of pulses.
The government has taken several measures for increasing the availability of pulses by banning export of pulses, extension of zero import duty on pulses and also import of 5000 tonnes of pulses from Price Stabilization Fund.
To increase production of pulses, the minimum support price for Urad and Arhar dal have been increased to 4625 rupees per quintal each and for Moong dal to 4850 rupees per quintal.
Ministry has directed all the departments to keep a close watch on prices of essential commodities, especially pulses and work in close coordination with all States to control price rise.
Cabinet Secretary is reviewing the price situation on a daily basis and all States have been advised to intensify anti-hoarding operations and keep in check black-marketing and profiteering by traders.
Food Ministry has said, 500 tonnes of Tur dal have been allotted to Kendriya Bhandar and 200 tonnes to Safal for distribution through over 400 outlets.
To meet the shortage of pulses in future, Government has decided to create a buffer stock of 40 thousand tonnes of pulses and 200 crore rupees have been earmarked for the Buffer stock.