The procurement of Rabi pulses has reached to 64,000 MT as on June 13, 2016. Thus together with earlier procurement of 51,000 MT of Kharif, total domestic procurement of pulses by government agencies has reached to 115,000 MT.
The Government has also ordered further import of 12,500 MT pulses for buffer stocks which include 10,000 MT Masur and 2,500 MT Urad. So far 14,321 MT pulses have already imported by the government agencies against the total contracted quantity of 38,500 MT.
This was informed in an inter-ministerial review meeting chaired by Department of Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande on Tuesday. The meeting reviewed the prices of essential commodities and discussed measures to ensure availability these commodities at reasonable prices.
Pande reviewed lifting and distribution of the pulses allocated from the buffer stock. Only Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Safal and Kendriya Bhandar in Delhi, have lifted allocated pulses. Lifting and requests for allocation is still awaited from other States. He directed NCCF to start distribution of Tur and Urad through mobile vans in Delhi at Rs. 120/kg. He expressed hope such steps will also be taken up by other States to make pulses available at reasonable prices.
The meeting also discussed lowering of import duty on wheat. The representative of FCI informed that it has sufficient stocks of wheat to cater to requirements of PDS and buffer norms besides open markets sale operations.
The meeting also reviewed the enforcement measures being taken by the States to check hoarding of essential commodities and suggested that these should be further strengthen. The meeting was attended by senior officials of Department of Food, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Revenue, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, MMTC and NAFED. (INN)