New Delhi: The Department of Consumer Affairs has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary Nidhi Khare to monitor the stock of Tur held by entities such as importers, millers, stockists, traders, etc., in close coordination with the state governments. The decision has come against the backdrop of reports of market players not releasing stocks despite regular arrival of imports in good quantities.
The latest announcement of a committee to monitor stock disclosure indicates the government’s intention to deal with hoarders and unscrupulous speculators in the market. It also indicates the government’s determination to keep prices of Tur under control in months ahead. The government is also closely watching the stock position of other pulses in the domestic market to take necessary pre-emptive measures in the event of unwarranted price rise in the coming months.
It may be recalled that the government had issued an advisory to the States and UTs on 12th August, 2022, to enforce stock disclosure in respect of Tur under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Further, in order to facilitate smooth and seamless import, the government has removed the 10 per cent duty applicable for Tur imports from non-LDC countries as the duty creates procedural hurdles even for zero duty imports from the LDCs. /BI/