Retail tur prices bite more, firm up to Rs 210/kg

Retail prices of tur dal today rose further to touch Rs 210 per kg while urad rates increased to Rs 198 per kg in the retail market despite the government's action against hoarding and other measures to boost supply.
According to data from the Consumer Affairs Ministry, tur dal prices today increased to Rs 210 per kg, from Rs 181 per kg in the last week.
The maximum increase in tur dal was seen in South India. Tur dal is available at Rs 210 per kg in Puducherry, Rs 205 in Bangalore and Rs 200 in Chennai.
In Mumbai, tur dal costs Rs 178 per kg while in Delhi, the dal is priced at Rs 163 per kg, the data showed.

Similarly, urad dal prices have also shot up sharply, causing discomfort to consumers, especially in South India, where it is consumed largely for preparing food items like idli and dosa.
As per the ministry data, retail prices of urad dal are within the striking distance of Rs 200 per kg as the commodity currently costs Rs 198 per kg, against Rs 187 last week.

Retail prices of urad dal are ruling at a maximum in Mysore at Rs 198 per kg, followed by Rs 190 in Chennai, Rs 187 in Mangaluru and Rs 180 in Puducherry.
In Mumbai and Delhi, urad is available in the range of Rs 152-166 per kg in the retail market, the data showed.

To provide relief to consumers from price rise, the Centre has imported 5,000 tonnes of tur dal through the state-owned MMTC, which is being sold at subsidised rates in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Other state governments have also been asked to indicate their requirements.
Besides, the state governments have taken de-hoarding measures and seized over Rs 5,800 tonnes of pulses from five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Padesh -- in the last few months.
The Centre has taken several other measures to increase availability including creation of a buffer stock of 40,000 tonnes of pulses and removal of stock holding exemption on importers, exporters, licensed food processors and large departmental retailers.

Prices have risen sharply as output dropped by two million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year on deficient monsoon and unseasonal rains.