Concerned over the acute shortage of pulses and their skyrocketing prices, the State Government on Thursday urged the Centre to supply adequate quantities of pulses at the earliest.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma told mediapersons here that the State Government has requested the Centre to expedite the process for supply of additional pulses through the MMTC.
Stating that the production of pulses in the country has come down by 25 percent due to scanty rainfall this year, Dasburma said the price of the pulses has skyrocketed. He, however, hoped that price of the pulses would come down by mid-November.
Notably, it is nearly three months since the price of arhar has increased from Rs 80 to Rs 180-Rs 190.
“The Government has not taken any step for controlling arhar price. Arhar dal has gone out of day-to-day meals menu in most of the houses. Prices of other dals like mung, black mung and peas have also increased. The prices need to be checked,” said Samaresh Sahoo, a daily wager.
Sahoo, who has a five-member family, lamented that it has been difficult on his part to provide adequate quantum of food to his three children. Thanks to God, the price of potato has come down to Rs 10 a kg, he said. The prices of vegetables like brinjal, pointed gourd, pumpkin, beans, carrot and bitter gourd are also on the rise, he added.