The Centre has reviewed the imposition of stock limits and the enforcement measures taken by States to check hoarding of pulses at a meeting held in Delhi on Tuesday.
An amendment was made in the Central Order under Essential Commodities Act to enable the States to impose stock limits on pulses sourced from imports, held by exporters, large food processing units as well as large departmental retailers. The States have been told to carry out surprise inspections and raids to prevent hoarding of pulses.
The measures including inspections carried out on dealers/stockists of pulses and raids against those who are violating stock limits and indulging in hoarding have begun to show results, according to a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
1,820 raids in State
In Telengana, 1,820 raids were conducted during the last few months resulting in seizure of 2,546 tonnes of pulses.
Similarly, 600 tonnes of pulses were seized with the help of 56 raids in Andhra Pradesh.
Raids at 25 locations in Madhya Pradesh also resulted in seizure of 2,295 tonnes of pulses.
Black-marketing
In Maharashtra, raids were conducted in Mumbai, Aurangabad, Pune, Amravati, Nasik, and Nagpur.
In Karnataka, inspections were carried out in Mysore district resulting in recovery of 3,600 quintals of pulses and raids were also carried out in Bengaluru.
Similar enforcement action against hoarding and black-marketing is also being taken up in other States.
Imported pulses
Secretary (Consumer Affairs) C. Viswanath told mediapersons that imported pulses were allocated to AP and Tamil Nadu in response to requests made by them. Other States were also asked to indicate their immediate requirements of pulses from the imported stocks for distribution through retail outlets.
Meanwhile, the Centre has increased the retail distribution of tur (redgram) dal at the rate of Rs.120-a-kg through nearly 500 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal in and around Delhi and other locations.
The Central Government is hoping that the measures will improve supply position and arrival of pulses in the market thereby moderating the prices of pulses.
Central Government wants States to intensify de-hoarding of pulses from traders
