The NDA government at the Centre has decided to provide the much-in-demand Arhar dal at a price of Rs 66 per kilogram to the state government to make it affordable to the masses.
Union Food and Civil Supplies minister Ramvilas Paswan said in lucknow on Sunday that his ministry would provide the state governments Arhar dal at Rs 66 per kilogram and Urad dal at Rs 82 per kilograms. Both can be sold by the state government at a maximum price of Rs 120 per kilograms.
Paswan said that last year the shortage of dal was due to sharp fall in the quantity of the import of the pulses by 10 lakh MT.
“In the current fiscal, the Union government has not only decided to import 58 lakh MT for meeting domestic demand but also to create buffer stock of to keep a check on the price of the pulses by market intervention," said the Union minister.
Highlight the policies and achievements of his ministry on the occasion of celebration on the completion of two years of the Modi government, Paswan said that inflation is well under control. “Several essential items are under priced like onion due to a glut in the market which is selling Rs 10 per kilogram and causing huge losses to the farmers as they were not getting the remunerative price for their produce." he said.
The Union minister however sought to put the blame for price rise of essential commodities on the state governments of UP and Bihar saying, "Both governments have not taken effective measures to control prices of essential commodities.’’
On drought and relief measures in Bundelkhand, Paswan said, "The situation is bad in Bundelkhand due ot droughts and unseasonal rains for consecutive years have destroyed the agriculture and adversely affected livestock. Centre is providing financial assistance to the UP government to provide relief to the people. It is the duty of the UP government to ensure that the relief material reaches the intended beneficiary.’’
Paswan claimed that the country's image has been refurbished due to the visit of PM to foreign countries.
The Union minister said that the Centre would soon amend the Consumer Protection Act for the interests of the consumers and strengthening consumer forums.
On the outstanding payments to cane farmers by private sugar mills, Paswan claimed that all the dues would be cleared by September next.
However the Union minister refused to take any political questions and commented, "Opposition parties were spreading lies about performance of the NDA government, the success of the NDA in Assam tells the whole story.’’