Imported dal yet to reach market, Centre seeks weekly stock update from April 15

The Centre has asked states to direct millers, traders, big-chain retailers and importers to declare their stocks of pulses and provide an update on the level every Friday from April 15 as it suspects that a large portion of the tur imported to the country is still lying in Customs warehouses and has not reached the market.

Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare conveyed this to states and Union Territories (UTs) in a letter sent on April 5. She is learnt to have highlighted the “the need for increased vigilance over the price and availability situation in respect of pulses especially Tur and Urad.”

She has asked the states and UTs to keep track of the prices of all major pulses and the availability at state and local levels.

“We have learnt through sources that the imported tur (arhar) which reached India has still not come out in the market. There are reports that it is still lying in Custom warehouses. Not only tur, the yellow pea also,” said an official of the Department of Consumer Affairs Tuesday.