The Central government has decided to release Tur from the national buffer in a controlled manner to address the shortage of Tur Dal in the Indian market and stabilize prices. The Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has directed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) to conduct online auctions of Tur Dal among eligible millers.
The auction process aims to augment the available stocks for milling into Tur Dal, ensuring a sufficient supply of the essential pulse for consumers. The quantities being auctioned and the frequency of the auctions will be carefully calibrated based on the assessed impact on the availability of Tur and its affordability to consumers.
The government's decision comes in the wake of the imposition of stock limits on Tur and Urad on June 2, 2023. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was invoked to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation while improving affordability for consumers. The stock limits, applicable until October 31, 2023, are as follows: 200 metric tons (MT) for wholesalers, 5 MT for retailers, 5 MT at each retail outlet, and 200 MT at depots for large chain retailers.
Millers are required to maintain stocks for the last three months of production or 25% of their annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. Additionally, all entities involved must declare their stock positions on the Department's portal (https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp).
To ensure compliance with the stock limit order, the Department of Consumer Affairs, along with state governments, is closely monitoring the implementation and stock disclosure status on the portal. Officials are crosschecking data on stocks held by entities in warehouses operated by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs), and stocks pledged by market players with banks against the quantities declared on the portal.
State governments are actively monitoring prices within their respective regions and verifying stock positions of stock-holding entities. Strict action will be taken against those found violating the stock limit order, demonstrating the government's commitment to ensuring the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices.
