3,000 more tonnes of pulses to be imported

India will procure further 3,000 tonnes of pulses from the global markets to tame the rising prices of the commodity, an official statement said on Monday.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting where Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, along with secretaries of consumer affairs, agriculture and commerce ministries, reviewed the production, procurement, availability and prices of pulses.

"The government will further import 2,000 tonnes of tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of urad dal," the food processing industries ministry said in a statement.

The tender would shortly be floated by the state-run Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) which handles trading of primary products such as coal, iron ore, and manufactured agro and industrial products.

Earlier, the trading firm had also floated a tender to purchase 15,000 tonnes of pulses (urad and tur) from overseas which have started arriving in domestic markets.

In the review meet, Sinha also interacted with chief secretaries of all states through video conferencing and reviewed imposition of stock limits and enforcement measures taken by the state governments.

"The states were exhorted to carry out surprise inspections and raids to prevent hoarding and black-marketing of pulses," the statement said.

The cabinet secretary directed all the 400 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal in the national capital to start distributing imported tur dal immediately.

Over 100 Kendriya Bhandar and Safal outlets have already commenced distribution of imported Tur dal in Delhi at Rs.120 per kg, it added. Sinha asked the state governments to create a buffer stock of pulses through procurement. He also directed them to get ready with their preparatory work for procurement in the ensuing Kharif season starting from next month.