Price of pulses falls as govt intensifies crackdown against hoarding

The slide in prices of select pulses continued unabated at the wholesale market in the national capital on Friday following reports of raids by authorities on hoarders and the government's decision to import more lentils to check prices.

Traders said the government's measures to curb soaring prices of pulses , including intensifying anti-hoarding operations, dragged down prices of select pulses by up to Rs 200 per quintal.

Over 35,000 tonnes of pulses have been seized from 10 states in last few days after state governments intensified crackdown against hoarding and black-marketing of the commodity.

To control sky-rocketing prices, the Centre has decided to create a buffer stock of 40,000 tonnes besides sale of imported pulses at cheaper rates and imposition of stock limits on traders as well as departmental stores, licensed food processors, importers and exporters.

Meanwhile, pulses importers on Friday offered to supply 1 lakh kg of tur dal per day at Rs 135 a kilogram and asked the government to exempt them form stock-holding limits.

In the national capital, urad and its dal chilka local fell by Rs 200 each to Rs 9,300-10,300 and Rs 10,300-10,500 per quintal, respectively.

Its dal best quality and dhoya followed suit and eased by a similar margin to Rs 10,400-11,000 and Rs 10,800-11,000 per quintal.

Moong and its dal chilka local moved down by Rs 200 each to Rs 7,400-8,000 and Rs 8,000-8,400 per quintal, respectively.

Its dal dhoya local and best quality traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 8,300-8,800 and Rs 8800-9,000 per quintal.

Arhar lost Rs 100 at Rs 12,100-12,400 per quintal.