Govt reviews price situation of pulses, onion

New Delhi: Amid soaring prices of pulses, the government on Friday reviewed supply and price situation of essential commodities and directed concerned departments to work closely with the states to curb price rise.

Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha today reviewed the prices of essential commodities, especially onions and pulses, the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

In the high-level meeting, secretaries of Consumer Affairs, Food and PDS, Agriculture, Commerce, Expenditure Departments, among others, were present.

Pulses prices in most retail markets have risen by up to 75 percent in the last one year due to fall in domestic output in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).

At present, tur dal prices are ruling at Rs 150 per kg, urad at Rs 130 per kg, moong at Rs 111 per kg and gram at Rs 71 per kg in most places.

The Centre has resorted to import 5,000 tonnes each of tur dal to boost domestic availability, of which 3,250 tonnes has already arrived and the remaining will reach shortly.

Further, an additional import of 2000 tonnes of tur dal is being made to augment supplies and moderate prices of pulses, the statement said.

"The Cabinet Secretary directed all Departments to keep a close watch on availability and prices of essential commodities and work in close coordination with states to control price rise," the statement said.

The Consumer Affairs Secretary informed that Kendriya Bhandar and Mother Dairy's retail chain Safal would be supplying imported tur dal through its 400 outlets in Delhi.

Other states have also been allotted imported pulses as per their requirement, the ministry said.

"Instructions were also issued for enforcing stock limits and taking effective action against hoarding and black- marketing of essential commodities, especially pulses. The States are again requested to intensify their efforts in this direction," the statement added.

On onions, it was observed in the meeting that the recent measures taken by the central Government like increase in minimum export price of onions, and extending stock limits and import of 2000 tonnes of onions have reigned in the prices of onions, which are showing a declining trend.