Centre to import 5k tonne toor dal

The Centre would import 5,000 tonnes of Toor Dal to contain surging prices of the grain. A meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on Friday decided to import Toor Dal as the pulses, particularly Urad and Toor were retailing at Rs 125 and Rs 150 respectively per kilogram.

The country is importing Toor and Urad for the first time in two years. India plugs the gap of four million between production and demand of pulses through import carried out by private firms. The government has already asked state-owned MMTC to import 5000 tonnes each of toor and urad dal and the first consignment is expected to reach India by September 23.

Poor monsoon caused sharp fall in production of pulses from 19.25 MT in 2013-14 crop year to 17.38 MT in 2014-15 (July-June) crop year, as a result of which prices have skyrocketed.

Imposing stock limits on pulses, the government has asked the states to take action against hoarders under the Essential Commodities Act.

The government has also suspended futures trading on Urad and Toor, while also banning the exports.

An inter-ministerial committee chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary C Vishwanath has been keeping a close watch on the availability of pulses on a weekly basis.

 On Friday, the committee discussed with state governments the arrangements for distribution of imported pulses as also onions.