<p>The state government is not likely to accept the centre’s offer to make tur and urad dal available to people at Rs 120 per kg – a measure aimed at helping people cope with rise in prices of essential commodities. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the state Food and Civil Supplies department said the government is reluctant to take the responsibility of supplying the pulses to people, as offered by the centre. <br /><br />One of the main reasons is the fear of incurring huge financial losses in the event of a price crash. Moreover, lack of clarity on the centre's part has also discouraged the state from accepting the offer.<br /><br />The centre recently offered to supply unmilled tur and urad dals to the state at Rs 66 and Rs 82 per kg, respectively, and asked to ensure availability of the pulses to people at not more than Rs 120 a kg. The centre made this offer in view of the rising prices. The state has to work out the cost of processing (milling), packing and transportation and distribution in such a way that the price (consumer price) of the pulses does not exceed Rs 120 per kg. <br /><br />Currently, urad dal and tur dal cost about Rs 185 and Rs 155 per kg, respectively, in the open market. There are indications of the prices coming down by Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg in the coming days. The centre recently announced that it has a stock of 10,000 metric tonnes of urad dal and tur dal, which will be distributed among all states.<br /><br />The department has in a proposal submitted to the government recently, estimated an expenditure of Rs 50 to Rs 60 crore per month to supply urad dal and tur dal to people in major cities and towns, including Bengaluru. This includes cost of lifting from the centre's godowns, milling, packing, transportation and sale. The plan is to sell these pulses at janata bazaars and outlets of Hopcoms and Karnataka State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. The estimated expenditure for supplying these pulses to all BPL families through the public distribution system is Rs 120 crore per month. But the government has chosen not to take any decision in a hurry, the sources said.<br /><br />Secretary to Food and Civil Supplies department Harsh Gupta said the government will have to bear the entire cost of supply of dal if the offer is accepted. “We will incur loss if the prices come down below Rs 120 per kg in the coming days. Several states are in a dilemma in this regard. Hence, the decision has to be taken carefully,” he added.<br /><br />He said there was no clarity on the centre's part on quantity of pulses it would supply to the state. The centre has said it has a stock of 10,000 metric tonnes. But Karnataka alone requires about 10,000 metric tonnes per month for supplying one kg dal to all BPL families. The centre needs to clarify on this, so that the state can chalk out the plan properly, he added.<br /><br />In two minds<br /><br />State reluctant to supply tur and urad dal at Rs 120/kg as proposed by centre.<br />It fears that price crash will lead to loss.<br />The plan is to sell these pulses in major cities and towns.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>The state government is not likely to accept the centre’s offer to make tur and urad dal available to people at Rs 120 per kg – a measure aimed at helping people cope with rise in prices of essential commodities. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the state Food and Civil Supplies department said the government is reluctant to take the responsibility of supplying the pulses to people, as offered by the centre. <br /><br />One of the main reasons is the fear of incurring huge financial losses in the event of a price crash. Moreover, lack of clarity on the centre's part has also discouraged the state from accepting the offer.<br /><br />The centre recently offered to supply unmilled tur and urad dals to the state at Rs 66 and Rs 82 per kg, respectively, and asked to ensure availability of the pulses to people at not more than Rs 120 a kg. The centre made this offer in view of the rising prices. The state has to work out the cost of processing (milling), packing and transportation and distribution in such a way that the price (consumer price) of the pulses does not exceed Rs 120 per kg. <br /><br />Currently, urad dal and tur dal cost about Rs 185 and Rs 155 per kg, respectively, in the open market. There are indications of the prices coming down by Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg in the coming days. The centre recently announced that it has a stock of 10,000 metric tonnes of urad dal and tur dal, which will be distributed among all states.<br /><br />The department has in a proposal submitted to the government recently, estimated an expenditure of Rs 50 to Rs 60 crore per month to supply urad dal and tur dal to people in major cities and towns, including Bengaluru. This includes cost of lifting from the centre's godowns, milling, packing, transportation and sale. The plan is to sell these pulses at janata bazaars and outlets of Hopcoms and Karnataka State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. The estimated expenditure for supplying these pulses to all BPL families through the public distribution system is Rs 120 crore per month. But the government has chosen not to take any decision in a hurry, the sources said.<br /><br />Secretary to Food and Civil Supplies department Harsh Gupta said the government will have to bear the entire cost of supply of dal if the offer is accepted. “We will incur loss if the prices come down below Rs 120 per kg in the coming days. Several states are in a dilemma in this regard. Hence, the decision has to be taken carefully,” he added.<br /><br />He said there was no clarity on the centre's part on quantity of pulses it would supply to the state. The centre has said it has a stock of 10,000 metric tonnes. But Karnataka alone requires about 10,000 metric tonnes per month for supplying one kg dal to all BPL families. The centre needs to clarify on this, so that the state can chalk out the plan properly, he added.<br /><br />In two minds<br /><br />State reluctant to supply tur and urad dal at Rs 120/kg as proposed by centre.<br />It fears that price crash will lead to loss.<br />The plan is to sell these pulses in major cities and towns.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>
