Sale of pulses at lower rates begins

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit handing over packets of reasonably-priced pulses to customers at a Mother Dairy booth, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Delhi Government would start sale of reasonably priced pulses and grams from 385 outlets belonging to Mother Dairy and Kendriya Bhandar and consumer stores of the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf on Tuesday expressed confidence that the sale of reasonably priced pulses and grams would have a moderating impact on the prices of these commodities in the open market.

“The market intervention will bring down the prices and tighten the noose around retailers,” he said, adding that the Delhi Government had also decided to clamp down on hoarders.

Mr. Yusuf said there was a 30 per cent to 40 per cent difference in the wholesale and retail rates of all these pulses and grams. “Today we have instructed the State Weights and Measures Department and the Enforcement Department to carry out raids on retailers who may be having stocks over the prescribed limits.”

“In the open market, arhar dal is still selling for around Rs.85 per kg. Since we would be selling it at Rs.66 per kg, it would impact its sale everywhere. Similarly we would be selling chana dal at Rs.33 per kg which is much lower than the market price.”

Mr. Yusuf said the other pulses and grams that would be sold through 288 outlets of Mother Dairy, 92 of Kendriya Bhandar and five national consumer stores of NCCF would include urad washed and urad whole, moong washed, malka masoor, Kabuli chana, kala chana and rajma chitra. The Delhi Government has tied up with the Wholesale Merchant Association for supply of pulses and grams and the rates at which they would supply these commodities would be reviewed after a fortnight.

“With the prices of all these pulses and grams being between 20 to 30 per cent less than the market price, it would help households save money in all these articles of daily use,” the Minister said.

While the sale of these pulses and grams would be officially launched by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday, the impact of the announcement has already started bearing fruit. Even Kendriya Bhandar, which was earlier selling arhar dal at Rs.84 per kg and then at Rs.80 per kg, has brought down the price further to Rs.75 per kg.

As for the reasons why the deal with NAFED failed to take off, sources said that was because it was asking for a subsidy. “That would have raised eyebrows,” sources said.