Is the escalating tur dal price throwing you off your household budget? Worry not. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has decided to intervene.
“We have decided to review the situation and accordingly import the required amount [of tur dal] and give it at a subsidised rate through the state fair price shops,” said Chavan, while addressing the media on Tuesday.
Chavan is said to have discussed the issue with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar before making the announcement. The price of tur dal, which accounts for over 50 per cent of the total pulses consumption in Maharashtra, has nearly doubled in just two months, forcing people to either stock it or switch to another dal.
Price at Rs 55-Rs 60 per kg in May, tur dal now costs Rs 100 per kg. In addition to making tur dal available through the Public Distribution System, the state government has cracked down on godowns where tur dal and other pulses have been hoarded.
“We have raided about 1,500 godowns across the state and seized a sizable stock of pulses,” said B.P. Pandey, principal secretary, Food and Civil Supplies.
He added that the department is collating information on the demand for tur dal and is accordingly negotiating with various countries for imports.
{{/usCountry}}He added that the department is collating information on the demand for tur dal and is accordingly negotiating with various countries for imports.
{{/usCountry}}Pandey added that by importing tur dal, they hope that the price will return to around Rs 50-55 per kg.
However, Ramesh Bang, minister for Food and Civil Supplies, said any decision on importing tur dal would be taken at the State Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.