Following reports of increasing prices of Arhar Dal (Pigeon Pea) in the State Capital, Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Saryu Roy called a meeting with the senior officials of his department on Thursday and decided to seek help from the trade bodies in this regard. Despite the fact that the State Government passing a directive that Arhar Dal will not be sold at a price higher than Rs120 per kg, the retailers in Ranchi are selling it at a much higher rate.
“I will call a meeting with Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) and decide the future course of action in this regard. We will also seek support from them in maintaining the prices of pulses and other edibles in the State,” said Roy.
Roy has also asked Marketing Board to submit a report on the prevailing prices of pulses in the State. The Board in its report from all across the State during the meeting pointed out that the prices of Arhar Dal vary from Rs120 to 138.
Taking swift action, Ranchi District Administration has decided to check hoarding of pulses and also tighten noose over the retailers who have been selling it at a higher price.
“The matter has been put into our notice and we have decided to identify such retailers who have been selling Arhar Dal at a higher rate than the rates approved the State Government and take action against them,” said Ranchi SDO Aditya Kumar Anand. Hoarding of Arhar Dal will also be checked, he added.
“Moreover, we will also take action against those if any specific complaints come to us in this regard,” added the SDO. Similarly, prices of potato will also be controlled, he said.
Notably, Arhar Dal, in shopping malls and other retail outlets are being sold at a rate of Rs179-229 per kg while general stores are selling it at a rate of Rs150 per kg which is much higher than the approved rate of Rs120 per kg by the State Government.
Retailers on the other hand, are of the view that the prices have gone up as there is less stock available in the market. “Crisis has occurred as stock is not coming from outside and there are very less stock available with the wholesalers…it is a temporary crisis which is expected to recover by November or December,” said a shopkeeper on Main Road. In general, prices of pulses are normally high during this season, added the shopkeeper.
Due to heavy rains, price of potato have also gone uncontrolled and is being sold at Rs20-24 per kg. Incoming of potato has also been affected due to heavy rains as wholesalers are ordering less than the usual count of trucks.
“In spite of ordering 20-22 trucks of potatoes, we are now ordering only 8-10 trucks of it so that it does not get decayed,” said a wholesaler requesting anonymity.