Over 50,000 MT pulses seized from hoarders across country

Over 50475 MT of pulses have been seized in 3,149 raids conducted across the country by various state governments.

The raids were conducted after an amendment in the Essential Commodities Act that enabled the States to impose limits on all types of stock of pulses.

The Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies department had yesterday raided a godown and recovered 23, 050 quintals of pulses hoarded by traders and dal mill owners in Gulbarga.

The Government had reviewed the imposition of stock limits and the enforcement measures taken by states to check hoarding of pulses in a meeting yesterday.

An amendment was made under essential commodities act to enable states to impose stock limits on pulses sourced from imports, held by exporters, large food processing units as well as large departmental retailers.

The states were exhorted to carryout surprise inspections and raids to prevent hoarding of pulses.

Meanwhile, Government of India has increased the retail distribution of tur dal at the rate of Rs 120/- per kg through nearly 500 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal in and around Delhi and other locations.

All of these measures are expected to improve supply position in the market thereby moderating the prices of pulses.