The government has so far conducted 8,394 raids under de-hoarding operations and has seized 82,462.53 tonnes of pulses across the states. The seized stocks will be released in retail markets within a week, which will further help cool down prices. The retail prices of tur dal has slipped below Rs 210 per kg and is now quoting around Rs 190, while wholesale price of the commodity declined to Rs 181.
A maximum quantity of 57,455 tonnes pulses was confiscated from Maharashtra due to which tur dal prices in Mumbai wholesale markets fell to Rs 152 per kg from Rs 200 a kg a week ago. Additionally, 4,932 tonnes of pulses have been seized in Chhattisgarh, 2,370 tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, 3,330 tonnes in Rajasthan and 2,189 tonnes in Haryana so far.
The prices of dal have risen across the country due to a shortfall in domestic output by two million tonnes in 2014-15 which has been hit by poor rains. There is also global shortage of lentils.