FM meets importers over rising pulses prices

Representatives of pulse and grain importers associations met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here today to discuss the prices of pulses, which are expected to go down after Diwali next month.

The importers said in a statement that they would make available one lakh kilograms of Tur Dal to the government every day at a cost of Rs. 135 per kilogram. The government has taken several initiatives to arrest the spiralling prices of pulses, including providing sale of pulses at Kendriya Bhandars and Safal stores at Rs. 120 per kg.

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

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary has been holding daily meetings to monitor the prices of pulses.

Disclosing that more than 36,000 MT pulses had been seized across the country, Jaitley had on Wednesday sent out a tough message to hoarders and said the government crackdown will continue and penal action will follow.

In Delhi, 'tur' dal is being sold at Rs. 120/kg through outlets of 'Safal' and 'Kendriya Bhandars'. Arhar is being sold at Rs. 120/kg.

The Centre had earlier planned a buffer stock of 40,000 tons. A limit has also been fixed for pulses in departmental and retail stores.