35k tonnes of pulses seized in 10 states

The Centre on Wednesday said around 35,000 tonnes of pulses have been seized from 10 states in two days after state governments intensified the crackdown against hoarding and black marketing of the commodity.

"Operations have been further intensified by the states to check hoarding. More than 35,000 tonnes have been seized in 10 states," the Consumer Affairs Ministry said. State governments have seized a total of 35,288 tonnes of pulses during 2,704 raids, it said.

Maharashtra accounted for 23,340 tonnes, followed by 4,525.19 tonnes seized in Chhattisgarh, 2,546 tonnes in Telangana, 2,295 tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, 1,168 tonnes in Haryana, 859.8 tonnes in Andhra Pradesh, 479.6 tonnes in Karanataka, 68.47 tonnes in Rajasthan, 4.32 tonnes in Tamil Nadu and 2.44 tonnes in Himachal Pradesh, the ministry added.

Following the action, tur prices on Wednesday declined marginally in retail markets to Rs 205 per kg from Rs 210 on Tuesday. Prices of moong, masoor and gram (chana) also showed a slight decline to Rs 130, Rs 110 and Rs 82, respectively, while urad rates remained unchanged at Rs 198 on Wednesday, government data showed.

Prices have shot up due to a fall in output by two million tonnes in 2014-15 on deficient and untimely rains.