Rising pulses price punctures festive mood, adds to inflation burden

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The spiraling rise in the prices of pulses, considered the common man's source of protein, might take away the festive excitement.  Even as heap of stocks of imported pulses are lying at ports there is a lot of apathy among the state governments to procure them.

Amid soaring prices of pulses, the government has reviewed supply and price situation of essential commodities and directed concerned departments to work closely with the states to curb price rise.

Also read: Govt reviews price situation of pulses, onion

Pulses prices in most retail markets have risen by up to 75 percent in the last one year due to fall in domestic output in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).

At present, tur dal prices are ruling at Rs 150 per kg, urad at Rs 130 per kg, moong at Rs 111 per kg and gram at Rs 71 per kg in most places.

Also read: No immediate respite in high pulses prices seen despite onset of imports

The Centre has resorted to import 5,000 tonnes each of tur dal to boost domestic availability, of which 3,250 tonnes has already arrived and the remaining will reach shortly.