Even as tur (arhar) dal prices continues to cross ₹200/kg in some regions, the government announced that it would import a further 2,000 tonnes of tur (arhar) and 1,000 tonnes of urad in its attempt to keep runaway prices in check by improving supplies.
The tender will be floated by State-owned MMTC shortly, according to an official statement here on Monday.
The move comes after a high-level meeting held by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha with the Secretaries of Consumer Affairs, Agriculture and Commerce, among others, where production, procurement and availability of pulses were reviewed.
“It was…decided that Government would further import 2,000 tonnes of tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of urad dal and tender will be floated by MMTC immediately,” said the statement.
Average retail rates of tur dal crossed ₹200/kg in some markets, such as Puducherry – ₹210 from ₹85 a year ago and Mysuru (₹205) on Monday, according to data from the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Urad was selling here at ₹152/kg on an average across New Delhi on Monday – up from ₹83 a year ago – an 83 per cent rise.
In New Delhi, government outlets such as Kendriya Bhandar and the Mother Dairy-owned Safal stores have been directed to sell tur for ₹120/kg.
The MMTC also floated a revised tender on Monday to increase the import quantity of chickpeas to 2,000 tonnes from Australia.
Shipments are expected to be available in India by end-November.