It is estimated that over 25 lakh tonnes of pulses is likely to be released post this decision. It is estimated that over 25 lakh tonnes of pulses is likely to be released post this decision.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed traders in the state to bring down the prices of tur dal to Rs 100 a kg. The decision will come into force from Thursday in the open market. During his visit to Delhi, Fadnavis also urged the Centre to provide more quota of pulses to Maharashtra to facilitate regulation of prices.

At a meeting held late Wednesday night, the traders’ association gave its consent to the state government. The BJP has, however, also set up its own outlets along with non-government organisations where tur dal will be provided at Rs 100 a kg.

The chief minister has also asked the Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies to release the seized stock of tur dal to bring down the prices in the market. The state government has seized 46,397 metric tonnes of tur dal through 2,492 raids conducted across the state in the last two weeks.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Girish Bapat said, “There is no shortage of tur dal. From tomorrow, we will ensure it is made available at Rs 100 per kg. We are ready to allocate the seized dal quota to anybody who is willing to sell to consumers.”

State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve appealed to NGOs and retailers to come forward and sell tur dal at Rs 100 per kg.

According to highly placed sources, 3,00,000 metric tonnes of imported pulses have already landed at Mumbai port, while 2,00,000 metric tonnes more are expected next week.

The ministry has been asked to step up its surprise checks to ensure there is no hoarding of imported pulses stock that has arrived in the local market.

Reports received from all 35 districts in Maharashtra show the average rate of tur dal in the open market is still high at Rs 160 to Rs 180 per kg. The lowest rate of Rs 120 per kg has been reported from Nagpur.

The shortage of urad and channa dals are also being attributed to higher tur dal prices. Maharashtra, which accounts for almost 35 per cent of pulses cultivation in the country, has faced major shortfall due to drought and hailstorm.

The state government has already lifted the restrictions on import limits with a rider to make it available in the open market and retail shops.

Opposition Congress and NCP are, however, still firm on their decision to continue with their protest against price hike.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “The chief minister has taken some measures but the prices are still very high. In Mumbai, prices of pulses are not less than Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kg.”

Vikhe-Patil, who held the agriculture portfolio during the Congress-NCP regime, said, “When prices of vegetables were high during our regime, I ordered to open outlets across the city. The state government does not have to make any investment. We ordered APMC and vegetable suppliers to regulate prices. It worked.” In a symbolic protest, Vikhe-Patil has taken the decision to gift packets of tur dal to every cabinet minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena government.

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