Pulses: Retailers hold back stocks, make prices go up.

Indore: Despite efforts of Centre and state government to lower prices of pulses, retail stores across the city are still selling pulses at higher rates.

Madhya Pradesh Pulses Association has claimed that due to illegal holding of pulses stocks, retailers are able to increase the prices. "We had begun selling pulses at lower rates to make it affordable for consumers. Even after good monsoon this year and government's decision to import pulses have failed to lower the retail prices," said Suresh Agrawal, president, Madhya Pradesh Pulses Association.

Retail stores have been selling pulses at prices higher by Rs 10-15 per kilogram. In the past 15 days prices at wholesale market has gone down by almost Rs 10-20 per kilogram for all pulses.

However, earlier central government had announced import of 6.5 lakh tonnes of pulses. Centre had asked states to keep a check on illegal storage and ensure that the prices of pulses do not go beyond Rs120 per kilogram. To keep a check on illegal stock, income tax department officials too had carried out search operation on premises of some of the city-based pulse traders and commodity brokerage firms.

With adequate rainfall and rise of acreage in pulses, the production is expected to increase which will bring down the prices. Prices of pulses like Chana, Urad, Moong and Tur has gone down by Rs 15 per kg in the wholesale market. Association wants government to take strict action against illegal holding of pulses to bring down the prices.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com