The Maharashtra government has failed to bring down the prices of pulses despite the raids and political interventions, with tur dal still selling for Rs 200 per kg during the festival season.
The Maharashtra government has failed to bring down the prices of pulses despite the raids and political interventions, with tur dal still selling for Rs 200 per kg during the festival season.
Traders now fear the prices may go up further to Rs 250 per kg in the coming days. At the retail market, tur dal is selling between Rs 200 and Rs 210 per kg.
Shopkeepers said because of the high prices, consumer demand was low and they were instead opting for other dals. Only a few retail outlets have reduced prices for Diwali.
In the wholesale market, tur dal is available between Rs 145 to Rs 150 per kg and good quality dal at Rs 160 to Rs 170 per kg.
“The rates at the wholesale market are slightly low due to government pressure, but the prices will touch Rs 250 per kg next year, as this year there is 40 per cent of crop deficit in the country,” Harsh Mehta, a businessman from the APMC, Vashi market, said.
The government is conducting raids and seizing pulses but it has not been made available in the market immediately.
“We have to follow the rule book after the seizure. The pulses cannot be made available in the market immediately,” an official from the food and civil supplies department said.
“As per the process, hearing is conducted and then if the pulses are found to be illegally hoarded then they are sent for auction,” he added.
But the government’s intervention is forcing businessmen and shopkeepers to stock limited pulses.
“The shopkeepers are not demanding more pulses despite the festival season. They also fear rate fluctuations, especially for tur dal,” Mr Mehta said.
The BJP distributed tur dal at Rs 100 per kg in some areas but the efforts were limited.
The Shiv Sena has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to bring down the prices to Rs 120 per kg.
“We are still buying tur dal at Rs 200 per kg. There is not much difference in the prices compared to last month,” Sarita Tawde, a home-maker said.
“The government had said it would reduce the prices during the festival season but nothing has happened,” she further added.
“This has affected the overall kitchen budget,” she said.
