he spiralling price of tur dal has raised the hackles of shopkeepers over the last few weeks, with sales registering 60 per cent dip in city markets, forcing consumers to shun the commodity.
The price of the commodity was around Rs. 80 a kg a month ago, but it has now touched Rs. 200, forcing consumers to say no to it.
While majority of consumers think twice before buying tur dal , hoteliers are using red lentils owing to its competitive price. “We have never seen such an uncertain situation in the last three decades. If the government fails to take concrete measures, the price will go up further. The festival will also contribute to escalation of price,” says Prakash Rao, a grocery store owner at Kaleswararao market.
Shopkeepers cite low production owing to crop failure as one of the reasons for the steep increase in prices. Another factor is hoarding.
On its part, the government has placed an indent for 1,700 metric tonnes of tur dal out of 5,000 metric tons that were imported by the Centre in view of the shortage of the commodity in the market. This was confirmed by Union Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu. At a review meeting on Sunday, the district administration decided to constitute special teams to crack the whip on hoarders. Teams, comprising officials from Revenue, Market and Civil Supplies departments, will conduct random checking to contain hoarding.
“As of now, we have not received complaints about hoarding, but customers request us not to allow shopkeepers to collect exorbitant charges,” says Joint Collector Gandham Chandrudu. He adds that the government will supply tur dal to white ration card holders at Rs. 50 a kg. According to him, the administration has stocked 700 metric tonnes of the commodity to meet the growing demand.
The government will supply
tur dal to white ration card holders at Rs. 50 a kg.
- Gandham Chandrudu,Joint Collector
