India to get imported onions, tur and urad by Oct 20

A high-powered inter-ministerial panel constituted to review the price situation held its third meeting on Monday

India would receive the first batch of imported onions by the first week of October. A high-powered inter-ministerial committee of officials constituted to review the price situation held its third meeting on Monday, where the need to frame a long-term strategy to procure pulses was taken.

According to an official statement, MMTC said the first batch of 888 tonnes and 984 tonnes of imported tur dal will arrive in Chennai port and JNPT on September 23 and 24, respectively, and the entire consignment of 5,000 tonnes would come by October 20. MMTC will receive the first batch of imported urad at Chennai and JNPT by October 20, of 2,500 tonnes each.

Officials said the first tranche of 1,000 tonnes of imported onions would reach around the first week of October, while another 1,000 tonnes could come in by the second week of October.

The retail price of onions, tur and urad dal had risen sharply in the past few days owing to short supplies, prompting the Centre to order imports to augment supplies.

A third tender for import of 1,000 tonnes of onions has been floated on September 11 and the bid would be opened on September 22.