No import to check pulses

New Delhi: Amid a supply crunch, retail prices of many pulses have crossed Rs100 per kg mark in major cities across the country, but the government agencies are yet to float the tender for their import to check the price. Barring gram and masoor dal, all major varieties of pulses  including tur, urad and moong  are being sold at prices above Rs100 per kg in the four metro cities due to lower production of the key lentils during the last harvest.

Consumers in Mumbai and Chennai are paying the maximum price for tur, urad and moong, followed by Delhi and Kolkata. Prices have increased by more than 60 per cent in the last one year as the domestic production fell by nearly two million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) due to unfavourable weather conditions. To check the prices, the government has decided to boost supply by importing pulses in large quantities, while it has also finalised the modalities for the import.