Pulses hoarding: Maharashtra govt conducts 276 raids in last 24 hours

New Delhi: In a bid to control the spiralling prices of pulses, the Maharashtra government Tuesday conducted 276 raids in 16 districts to check hoarding and black-marketing of the commodity in the state.

Besides, the state government reimposed stock holding limits on pulses traders to improve the supply in the state.

"The state government has informed that it has geared up the entire machinery in all districts and everywhere raids are being conducted to check hoarding and black-marketing of pulses," Consumer Affairs Secretary C Viswanath told PTI.

The Maharashtra government has informed that it has conducted 276 raids in 16 districts in last 24 hours.

Maximum raids have been conducted in Pune (150), Nagpur (29) and Solapur (21), the official said, adding that the raids are going on in the rest of the districts.

The official further said that the state government has also reimposed stock limits effective from October 19.

Now in Maharashtra, corporations can hold pulses stocks up to 3,500 quintal, while traders in cities can hold stock up to 2,000 quintal and 1,000 quintal in rural areas.

The state had withdrawn stock holding limits on pulses on April 23 this year.

"As a result of these measures, the Maharashtra Food Secretary has informed that wholesale prices have come down by Rs 20 per kg today in the state," Viswanath added.

In Mumbai, retail prices of tur dal today are ruling as high as Rs 178 per kg, urad at Rs 166 per kg, moong dal at Rs 101 per kg, masoor dal at Rs 92 per kg and gram dal at Rs 72 per kg, as per the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Prices of pulses are rising unabated due to 2 million tonnes shortage in domestic production in 2014-15 crop years due to poor rains, while the Centre has taken several measures, including imports, to improve domestic availability and check prices.