Cut margin in wholesale and retail prices of pulses: Centre

The Centre on Friday asked state governments to crack the whip to ensure a “reasonable” margin between the wholesale and retail prices of pulses.

At a meeting to review the availability of essential commodities, it was found that the margin between the wholesale and retail prices ranged from as low as 9% in Kolkata to 32% in Tamil Nadu.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande asked representatives of state governments to follow the steps taken by Maharashtra where pulses were sold at less than Rs 100 a kilogram as against Rs 160 per kg in Delhi.

“The meeting reviewed availability of pulses and sugar and stock limits imposed by States thereon, bringing down price difference between wholesale and retail, lifting of pulses from Central Buffer Stock and strict enforcement of Packaged Commodities Rules,” an official statement said.

State governments were also advised to have fortnightly interactions with wholesalers and retailers to rationalise the margins.

In the meeting, state representatives said that the prices of pulses have started registering downward trends in recent weeks and expected to decline further.

Several states have imposed stock limits on essential commodities in view of coming festival season, strict monitoring will be done to check hoarding of essential commodities, officials said.

Pande also asked state to strengthen information mechanism to monitor prices of essential commodities and its daily reporting from various markets to the Centre.