Centre to sell imported tur dal via Kendriya Bhandar, Safal

In a major relief to consumers who are coughing up more cash to get pulses in their menu, the Centre has decided to make imported <g data-gr-id="26">tur</g>/<g data-gr-id="24">arhar</g> <g data-gr-id="27">dal</g> available at subsidised rates at 400 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and <g data-gr-id="25">Safal</g>. The pulses will be available at 100 Kendriya <g data-gr-id="14">Bhandars,</g> while <g data-gr-id="28">Safal</g> will be selling them at 300 stores across the national Capital.

“Since prices of pulses are touching the sky, the ministry has taken an initiative to provide some relief to consumers by making tur dal available at about 20 <g data-gr-id="16">per cent</g> lesser rate than the existing price,” a source in the ministry said, adding that a primary subsidy of Rs 10-15 per kg will also be given to other states in order to encourage the sale of imported pulses.

“Given the fact that pulses are sent to millers for policing, which is a <g data-gr-id="23">time consuming</g> process, the lentils would be available at the shelves of Kendriya Bhandar and <g data-gr-id="29">Safal</g> in the next two weeks,” the source further added. Out of the first consignment of 5,000 MT, around 3,250 MT of imported <g data-gr-id="31">tur</g> has arrived at Chennai and Mumbai ports and remaining stock will arrive by October 20, while the MMTC has assured that the agency has enough stock to supply tur dal in Delhi and other states. The MMTC will import an additional quantity of 2,000 MT of tur dal to augment supplies and moderate the price of pulses. 

The decision in this regard was taken at high-level meeting chaired by Consumers’ Secretary with officers of agriculture ministry, MMTC, Mother Dairy and Kendriya Bhandar regarding supply of imported pulses through Kendriya Bhandar, a large consumer cooperative society, and <g data-gr-id="32">Safal</g>, the fruit and vegetable selling store of Mother Dairy. Officials of the food and civil supplies of the Delhi government were also present in the meeting.