Maharashtra asks Centre to release 10,000 tons tur dal immediately

New Delhi: The Maharashtra government on May 11 demanded the Centre to release 10,000 tonnes of tur dal immediately from the buffer stock to meet the requirement of pulses in the state.

Keeping in view the state's monthly tur demand of 7,000 tonnes, the state government had sought for 28,000 tonnes of the dal from the buffer stock created by the Centre, but it has been offered only 7,000 tonnes.

The pulses issue was raised by Maharashtra's Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat in a meeting with Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan held here. "We requested that 10,000 tonnes should be allocated now and another 10,000 tonnes after 2-3 months," Bapat told reporters after the meeting.

The Union food minister has assured that the Centre would consider the state demand, he added. The Centre has procured about 62,178 tonnes of pulses to create buffer stock in order to intervene in the market in case of price rise. Bapat also demanded central assistance for installing CCTV in state godowns.

Highlighting the measures taken by the Maharashtra government to boost pulses supply and check prices, Bapat said the state cabinet has taken a decision to cap maximum retail prices of pulses and proposal in this regard has been send to President for the approval.

He also said the state government has decided to direct traders to keep 25 per cent of imported tur in state godowns so that the state demand is met first properly. The remaining imported pulses will be allowed for sale in other states. The tur dal production in the state has declined due to drought.