Lok Sabha Question No. 336 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Prices of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, BHARAT SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 336

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

## PRICES OF PULSES

336. SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI NANA PATOLE:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  prices  of  pulses  have  allegedly  been  stacked  up  due  to  speculation  and cartelisation by a few importers who hoarded pulses through dummy companies, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has directed the State Governments to prepare list of importers, wholesalers and major traders of pulses;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  also  asked  States  to  ensure  that  the  stock  limits  for  both wholesalers and retailers are enforced to avoid any hoarding and if so, the details thereof and the response of the State Government thereto; and
- (e) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  the  abnormal  trend  of speculation in the market and control the prices of pulses in the country?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=ky; ea=h ¼Jh jke foykl ikloku½

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## THE MINISTER FOR (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) : The recent rise  in  prices  of  pulses  is  mainly  on  account of  shortfall  in  domestic production  due  to  adverse  weather  conditions  and  increase  in  demand  because  of  rise  in population and per capita income and change in food habits. As speculation, cartelization, blackmarketing/hoarding  also  put  pressure  on  prices,  domestic  searches  and  surveys  have  been conducted on a number of importers, traders and financiers engaged in the pulses trade.
- (b)  &  (c):  The  Government  has  advised  States/UTs  to  put  in  place  a  mechanism  for  regular collection of data/information on stocks of pulses being held by dealers for effective implementation of Stock limits.
- (d) : The Government has regularly issued advisories to States/UTs for strict enforcement of the Essential Commodities  (EC)  Act,  1955  and  the  Prevention of  Black-marketing  and Maintenance  of  Supplies  of  Essential  Commodities    (PBMMSEC)  Act,  1980.States/UTs  have been conducting raids and seized pulses are being disposed, as per the provisions under the EC Act, 1955.
- (e): The requisite details are given at Annexure .

## ANNEXURE

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO  PART  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.336 FOR 26.04.2016 REGARDING PRICES OF PULSES.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Export  of  all  pulses  is  banned  except  kabuli  channa  and  up  to  10,000  MTs  in  organic pulses and lentils.
2. Import of pulses are allowed at zero import duty.
3. Stock limit on pulses extended till 30.9.2016.
4. Government  imported  5000  MT  of  Tur  from  Malawi/Mozambique  and  allocated  it  to States for retail sale to consumers to improve availability and to moderate prices.
5. MSP (including bonus) raised for kharif pulses for Tur and Urad and Moong. MSP also raised for Rabi pulses for Gram and Masoor.
6. Government has approved creation of buffer stock of 1.5 lakh MT of pulses for effective market intervention.
7. Government  has  decided  to  immediately  release  10,000  MT  of  pulses  from  the  buffer stock (consisting of 8,000 MT of Tur and 2,000 MT of Urad) to States/UTs at subsidized rates for retailing  by them at not more than Rs 120/- per kg to improve availability and stabilise prices.
8. Regulatory  measures  by    Securities  &  Exchange  Board  of  India  (SEBI)  on  Chana contracts  including  increase  in  the  margin  requirement  to  discourage  speculation  and  to moderate the price volatility in forward market and close monitoring by SEBI
9. Strict  vigilance  by  Directorate  of  Revenue  Intelligence  to  prevent  importers  from  misusing the facilities of Customs Bonded Warehouse facility
10. Setting up of a Group of Officers for regular monitoring and exchange of information on hoarding, cartelization etc.

******