Due to the seizure of pulses in 12 states, prices have started showing a downward trend, a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.
Over 82,000 tonnes of pulses have been seized so far from hoarders during 8,394 raids carried out by 12 state governments, resulting in a marginal fall in tur and urad dal prices across the country.
The states have indicated that seized stock will be made available in retail markets within a week, which will further help to bring down skyrocketing prices.
The retail price of tur dal slipped below Rs 210 per kilogram (kg) and was quoted around Rs 190 today, while wholesale price of the commodity declined to Rs 181 per kg, according to the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry.
The price of Urad dal dropped by up to Rs eight per kg in both retail and wholesale markets across the country. The retail price of urad was Rs 190, while it was Rs 180 per kg in the wholesale market.
"Under de-hoarding operations, 8,394 raids have been conducted so far and 82,462.53 tonnes pulses have been seized across the states," an official statement said today.
Due to the seizure of pulses in 12 states, prices have started showing a downward trend, a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.
A maximum quantity of 57,455 tonnes pulses was confiscated from Maharashtra due to which tur dal prices in Mumbai wholesale markets fell to Rs 152 per kg from Rs 200 a week ago, though its impact is yet to percolate into retail markets, the official added.
Similarly in Rajasthan and Karnataka, the wholesale prices are showing a declining sign.
As per the ministry data, 4,932 tonnes of pulses have been seized in Chhattisgarh, 2,370 tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, 3,330 tonnes in Rajasthan and 2,189 tonnes in Haryana so far.
The statement further said that "more states have started selling pulses through government/cooperative outlets. Prices in the wholesale market have also registered declining trends.