Prices of pulses coming down, says govt

The government on Friday claimed that prices of arhar dal, that had touched Rs 210 per kg, were on the decline following a massive crackdown on hoarders that netted nearly 1.25 lakh tonnes of the commodity.

At the prodding of the Centre, state governments carried out 10,903 raids on millers, large stockists and large departmental stores and recovered 1,24,209 metric tonnes of pulses prompting a fall in the prices in wholesale markets.

“There has been a decline of more than Rs 2, 400 per quintal in wholesale market in the prices of tur/arhar dal and the same is reflected in the retail prices also,” a statement from the Consumer Affairs Ministry said.

The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have started distributing pulses at subsidised rates through the public distribution system, it added.

Meanwhile, the crackdown on hoarders following the removal of stock holding limits on pulses found and echo in the United States where concerns were voiced over India closing its import of pulses.