To increase domestic supply, the government will sell Tur Dal to Millers from buffer stocks

As part of its attempts to increase domestic supply and manage prices, the government would sell tur dal from its buffer stock to qualified millers.

According to an official statement, “the government has decided to release tur from the national buffer in a calibrated and targeted manner until imported stocks arrive in the Indian market.”

To increase the stocks that can be used to make tur dal for consumers, the Department of Consumer Affairs has instructed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) to dispose of tur dal through an online auction among qualified millers.

The frequency and amount of the auctions will be adjusted according on the estimated effect of the disposal on the affordability of tur for consumers.

In order to minimize stockpiling and dishonest speculation as well as to increase consumer affordability, the government implemented stock restrictions on tur and urad on June 2 by using the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Stock restrictions for tur and urad have been established under this order until October 31, 2023, for all states and UTs.

The stock limits that apply to each type of pulse are 200 tonnes for wholesalers, 5 tonnes for retailers, 5 tonnes at each retail location, and 200 tonnes at the depot for big chain retailers. For millers, the stock limits apply to the last three months of production or 25% of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher.

Additionally, the order has mandated that these organizations reveal their stock positions on the department’s site.

The Department of Consumer Affairs and the state governments continually monitor the execution of stock limit orders and the status of stock disclosure on the portal.

Data on stocks held by different entities in the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs) warehouses, stocks pledged by market participants with banks, etc., have been compared to the amounts stated on the stock disclosure site in this respect.

In order to take stern action against those who disobeyed the stock limits regulation, the state governments claimed they were constantly monitoring the prices in their respective states and confirming the stock holdings of stock-holding businesses.