Tur Dal prices go through the roof in Telangana

Hyderabad: The price of pulses in Telangana has shot up in spite of the Center’s order to sell them at low prices. The Centre has directed all state governments to ensure tur dal (red gram) is available at less than Rs 120 per kg in the retail market.

As per the civil supplies department, the tur dal price in Telangana as on Saturday was at Rs 138 to Rs 163 per kg. Tur dal is presently being sold for Rs 147.99 in the state, which is Rs 28 more than the Centres prescribed price.

“Prices have increased by Rs 50-60 per kg during the last three weeks in retail market. Due to consecutive droughts for the last two years, production has been hit leading to pressure on prices. We have decided to procure additional stocks from the Centre to reduce demand-supply gap and keep prices under control. The civil supplies and vigilance departments have been asked to conduct raids to check hoarding of stocks by traders, " said Mr Etela Rajender, minister for civil supplies.

It may be recalled that the Central government has decided to release 10,000 tonnes of unmilled Tur dal at Rs 66 per kg and unmilled urad dal at Rs 82 per kg to the states for retail distribution of milled/processed dals at not more than Rs 120 per kg. States have been requested to immediately place their requirement for making allotment of tur and urad dals for retail distribution through their channels.