Consumers have reason to cheer, what with the skyrocketing prices of pulses having come down thanks to new stock added at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in the past few days.
Consumers have reason to cheer, what with the skyrocketing prices of pulses having come down thanks to new stock added at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in the past few days. However, the Dal Mills Association (DMA) is facing losses like never before.
Over the last 15 days, the prices of pulses such as moong, urad, masoor, toor and chana have reduced by a good Rs 20 to Rs 25 to reach Rs 80 per kg for moong, Rs 140 per kg for urad, Rs 80 per kg for masoor, Rs 105 per kg for toor, and Rs 100 per kg for chana.
Consumer Mandakini Chitale (55) said that she had bought half a kg of moong for Rs 50 at the beginning of the month. “Now, I got the same quantity for Rs 40, and so I purchased one kg for Rs 80 for the next month. The price drop is making a big difference to me,” she said.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp messages have been doing the rounds showing DMA prices that are even less, by about Rs 20. However, a DMA member said that these do not give a clear picture. “Around 15 days ago, the state asked us to give the rate of all pulses at which they can purchase pulses from us. This number changes when it goes through traders and finally reaches retailers. So, an average increase of Rs 20 to Rs 25 from what we have said in the chart is normal,” explained DMA member Rajesh Bilala.
The DMA rates (per kg) were: toor Rs 80, chana Rs 80, moong Rs 70, urad Rs 100 and masoor Rs 65. But by the time the pulses reach retailers aka local grocery stores, the prices increase with the most inflated pulse being urad, which has touched Rs 140 per kg. “Urad is being sold beyond its profit margin, but here the state comes in and they have to regulate prices. But yes, our chart is not the final price but just a base to which Rs 20 to Rs 25 should be added,” said Mr Bilala.
The Mumbai Grahak Panchayats have countered the DMA claim saying that the latter should have created a chart for different kinds of scenarios.
“The body can easily give a chart about prices of different pulses as per grade i.e. prices of different grades of urad such as A, B or C etc. Why is this list not being given or been asked for in the first place ” asked a grahak panchayat member.
