Telangana to curb rising pulse rates

Hyderabad: With pulses crossing Rs 200 per kg in the retail market, the Telangana government has initiated steps to contain price rise.

Civil supplies minister Etela Rajender convened a meeting with dealers and suppliers of pulses on Monday and warned them against hoarding.

The government is planning to open special counters across the state to sell pulses at subsidised rates.

It is considering replacing the existing special onion counters in Rythu Bazaars with pulses as onion prices have subsided.

“There is severe shortage of pulses across the country. Whatever stocks are available with us today are sufficient to meet the needs of ration card holders. We need to procure more stocks to make pulses available at subsidised rates in special counters in Rythu Bazaars across the state as was done in the case of onions earlier,” said Mr Rajender.

Speaking to reporters he said, “We were providing red gram for Rs 50 per kg through ration shops when the price was Rs 125 per kg. Though the price has now crossed Rs 200, we still continue to provide it for Rs 50 kg. If the Centre agrees to supply red gram at Rs 135 per kg, we are ready to supply 2 kg to each household at Rs 50 per kg.”

The minister warned dealers and suppliers of pulses against hoarding stocks in the meeting. He said the government would not hesitate to book criminal cases against those indulging in hoarding.

Rajender also said that the Civil Supplies department had formed special teams along with the Vigilance to carry out raids to check hoarding.