Karnataka Govt. auctions pulses to control prices

The Karnataka Government has auctioned the pulses seized during raids on various godowns in Gulbarga district to control spiralling prices of the lentils.

In one of the biggest recoveries in the state, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies (KFCSC) Department recently seized 23,050 quintals of pulses hoarded by the traders.

The prices of pulses have touched a record Rs. 200 per kilogram, disturbing the monthly budget of the residents across the country.

Prices of pulses like chickpeas, pigeon peas and green gram hit record highs last month, as a first back-to-back drought in three decades cut output of the world's biggest importer.

The auctioning of pulses has been on for two days in Gulbarga.

Deputy Collector of Gulbarga, Vipul Bansal, said that one lakh quintals of pulses recovered during raids in the last one month was being auctioned to cool down prices in the market.

"From the government, the latest instructions are that for toor and urad we should act immediately because the prices are very high and these crops have been harvested long back and for last 9 to 10 months they have been stored with the intention to hoard and spike up the prices," said Bansal.

He added that 1,050 quintal of pulses was auctioned in the first two days.

The first day of auction was boycotted by the private traders but the second day saw traders buying pulses at good prices.