Government directs states/ UT to maintain stock disclosure of pulses

DIMAPUR — Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, has directed all the states and union territories (UT) to enforce weekly stock disclosure of pulses by all stockholding entities and verify the stock declared by them in order to prevent hoarding and market manipulation.

The secretary of Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare, has warned of strict action on stockholding entities found to be reporting false information on stock disclosure portal, an update from the Ministry of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution stated on April 10.

“Stocks in warehouses located in major ports and in pulses industry hubs should be verified from time to time and strict action should be taken on stockholding entities found to be reporting false information on stock disclosure portal,” the secretary stated.

The secretary on April 10 held a meeting with the principal secretaries and secretaries of State Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies Departments as a follow up of the April 5, 2024, directive to all the states and UTs to enforce pulses stock disclosure by stockholding entities.

During the meeting, Khare apprised on the need for increased vigilance over the stock position and price trends in respect of pulses to prevent hoarding and market manipulation. She also held a meeting with pulses importers associations and other pulses industry representatives to discuss issues relating to the import and stock disclosure, the report added.

The secretary asked the importers and industry players to religiously declare their stock of pulses, including imported yellow peas on weekly basis.

Report stated that the department of Consumer Affairs has revamped the stock disclosure portal to include yellow peas and also big chain retailers as an entity, which would be operational from April 15, 2024.

The states have also been asked to monitor the stock position in respect of imported yellow peas apart from the five major pulses namely Tur, Urad, Chana, Masur and Moong.

Khare informed that imported yellow peas are continuously released in the market to augment overall availability of pulses. She further stated that stocks of Tur, Urad and Masur with importers are to be monitored for smooth and continuous release in the market.