Minister of public distribution Girish Bapat has said the state government is planning to buy 700 metric tonnes of chana dal (gram) to control the prices of pulses in the state.
Minister of public distribution Girish Bapat has said the state government is planning to buy 700 metric tonnes of chana dal (gram) to control the prices of pulses in the state. “We are also planning to sell chana dal in open market to curb its prices,” he said.
“We are trying to make sure that the stocks arrive in the state before Diwali, following which chana dal can be made available at the price of Rs 70 per kg,” he said on Wednesday.
With pulses prices soaring in the state with Diwali just round the corner, there is discontent among people.
“We are expecting all clearances from the Centre for 700 tonne chana dal required in the state. The Centre has asked the state to keep the price of it less than Rs 70 per kg. Once state gets nod from the Centre, we will immediately release the pulses in the market,” Mr Bapat said.
The pigeon pea would be sold at Rs 95 per kilogram from the ration shops. The government is also bidding for pigeon pea from National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, which could be available for Rs 105 per kilogram, he added.
Mr Bapat refused the charges of state Congress president Ashok Chavan that the Centre has rejected the state’s proposed Essential Commodities Act to control the prices of the pulses. He said, “The Centre has asked to increase punishment from one year’s rigorous imprisonment to seven years for violation of the Act. We are considering this.”
