Arrival of imported pulses to begin from next week

Source: PIB, Government of India

The second meeting of the inter-ministerial committee on prices and availability of essential food items was held in New Delhi on Monday. The committee reviewed the current status of the arrival of imported pulses and onion. On pulses, MMTC appraised that 2500 MT of the imported Tur will arrive in three tranches at Chennai port and similar quantity of around 2500 MT of Tur will arrive at JNPT in four tranches beginning from September 23. The entire consignment of 5,000 MT of Tur would be received at the two ports by October 20, 2015. To further improve the availability, import of additional 5,000 MT of Tur has also been approved. MMTC has already floated a tender of procurement of Tur on September 11, 2015 with the bid opening date of September, 21. With respect to Urad MMTC indicated that 5,000 MT of Urad from Myanmar will be received at the Chennai and JNPT. Both the ports will receive around 2,500 MT each by October, 20. As states have indicated their inability to process the imported un-milled pulses, MMTC was advised to float a tender for milling the imported pulses i.e. Tur and Urad. This would ensure quicker uptakes by the states and also its distribution to consumer. As regards imports of onion, MMTC informed that about 1000 MT is expected by first week of October and another 1000 MT by second and third week of October, 2015 at JNPT, Mumbai. As directed by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution in the review meeting held on September, 10, MMTC have also floated a tender for import of 1000 MT of onion on September 11 and the bid would be opened on September 18. These imports are expected to improve the availability of pulses and onion and moderate their prices.  

September 14, 2015 | 4:46pm IST.