The government has decided to further import 2,000 tonnes of tur dal and 1,000 tonnes of urad dal, as per decision taken at a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and attended by agriculture, consumer affairs and commerce secretaries as well as all state chief secretaries. This step has been taken as prices of pulses are soaring as high as Rs 200 per kg mark in the retail markets.
The state-owned MMTC will float tender for the above on an immediate basis. MMTC has already imported 5,000 tonnes of tur dal and floated revised tenders for import of 2,000 tonnes of chickpeas. The Cabinet Secretary in the meeting has also reviewed the position regarding the production, procurement, availability and prices of pulses.
The Cabinet Secretary also directed that all the 400 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal in Delhi should start distributing imported tur dal immediately. Over 100 Kendriya Bhandar and Safal outlets have already commenced distribution of imported tur dal in Delhi at Rs 120 per kg.