Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 11: No specific mechanism has been developed in the state to regulate prices of pulses when cost of edible varieties has soared between Rs 100 and Rs 125 per kilogram.
The price of arhar dal has gone up from Rs 110 a kilogram to Rs 125 within a week, although the government price statement has put it at Rs105. Likewise, the price of urad dal hovers around Rs 102 to Rs 105 per kilo for several weeks in parts of the state.
Price of arhar dal and urad dal has registered an increase of 40 per cent over the price in the previous year.
Pulse traders are dependent on imports from Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to meet state’s demand. However, steep rise in price at the source reflects in all wholesale and retail markets in the state adversely affecting the consumers.
Federation of All Orissa Traders’ Association (FAOTA) secretary Sudhakar Panda said, “Dal prices have increased at source markets, especially in countries like Myanmar from where pulses are imported during this season. The price of dal (arhar) with 5 pc VAT comes to Rs12,200 per quintal. At the retailer, it touches Rs12,500 a quintal.”
Although there is concern among consumers over the pulse prices, the state government has failed to regulate the market. The government had sought the Centre’s intervention in May to regulate the price mechanism.
It had asked the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to designate appropriate authority at the Centre to ensure dissemination of information of landing price of imported pulses on a regular basis across the country to curb undue profit taking by the importers.
State food supply and consumer welfare (FSCW) minister Sanjay Das Burma at a meeting of state food & consumer affairs ministers in New Delhi July 7 urged the Centre to exclude commodities like arhar , chana and urad dals from the NCDEX listing for few months to reduce the speculative rise in prices of these commodities.
Meanwhile, the state government directive to collectors to crack down on hoarders has not been effective in controlling prices. FSCW officials said steps are being taken in this regard.