Govt to dispose of 5.5L tonnes pulses from buffer stock: Paswan

New Delhi: After failing to dispose of imported pulses even at throwaway prices, the government has now decided to sell the lentils to states. Announcing the decision, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said that the Centre will dispose of immediately about 5.5 lakh tonnes of dals at lower rates to five states and for Central-supported welfare schemes such as midday meal programme, etc.

It's worth mentioning that the government had last year decided to create a buffer stock of pulses to ensure better prices to farmers and at the same time use the stock to augment local supply in times of price rise. About 20 lakh tonnes of buffer were created through local procurement and imports.

"We still have a buffer stock of 18 lakh tonnes in our godowns. We have decided to dispose of some quantity to states and also use in welfare schemes," Paswan said, adding that around 3.5 lakh tonnes of pulses will be given at a lower rate to five states - Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Around 2 lakh tonnes of pulses will be given for consumption under various central welfare schemes including the midday meal programme, for which a Cabinet nod will be taken soon, the minister said.

Criticizing the move, nutrition experts said, "The pulses which have been in the stock for the last one-year might not be suitable for human consumption. Generally, the life of all protein-rich food grains is not more than one-year, the stocked pulses procured by states would also meet the same fate."

In another major decision, Paswan has asked states to take action to curb the sale of adulterated food items and poor quality gold jewellery during the festival season. In a letter to state governments, Paswan said though consumers are at relief in view of "stable" prices of most essential commodities, the issue of the sale of adulterated sweets and other food items is a concern.

Even sale of poor quality jewellery during the festival period is a matter of concern even as the government is implementing a 'gold hallmarking' scheme to assure quality and protect consumers, he said.