Centre ready with stocks of pulses, onions to help cool prices in DelhiHome

Centre has asked Delhi government to estimate its requirement of pulses, particularly arhar and chana, which can be sold at cheaper prices to public through fair price shops.

Sources said that the issue of increasing prices of onions and pulses in the national capital was discussed at a meeting headed by consumer affairs secretary C Viswanath last week where Delhi government officials were also present.

"Since we are importing 5,000 tonnes of arhar dal and it will be available next month, we have asked the city government to make an assessment of their requirement. Their need would be met and people can also get pulses at cheaper prices. It's for them to take a call," said a consumer affairs ministry official. He added efforts to sale pulses at cheaper rate will help moderate the market prices.

The price of arhar has been hovering around Rs 115 for the past one month, while chana dal is selling at Rs 68 per kg.

Meanwhile, Delhi government is likely to take a decision on selling onion through fair price shops. Nafed has already procured about 2,500 tonnes for Delhi.

Consumer affairs minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that "We are asking all states to enforce the anti-hoarding drive during these months when traders try to make maximum profit because of shortage in supply. We are also getting huge quantity of imported onion that will be used as market intervention to check prices of onion," consumer affairs minister.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/