Cabinet Secretary reviews the prices of essential commodities

A high level committee meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary reviewed the prices of essential commodities. It was observed that prices of most of the essential commodities are under control and even pulses and onions have been showing a declining trend. With coming of fresh Kharif crops, the prices are likely to further moderate. Agencies like FCI, NAFED and SFAC have been doing procurement operations of urad and tur dals and the agencies were advised to further step up procurement operations to build the buffer stock.

To further supplement and augment the buffer stock, it was also decided to start import of pulses and to float tenders for 5,000 MT of tur dal and another 5,000 MT of urad dal. It was also decided to recommend further extension of zero import duty on chick peas and lentils upto 30.9.2016, coterminous with other pulses for which zero import duty has already been extended upto 30.9.2016. All these measures would enable further building of adequate buffer stock of pulses and also increase the availability of pulses in the domestic market.