Dal crisis: Centre blames states for not acting against hoarders; raids recover 36000 tonnes

As much as 5,000 tonnes of imported pulses have already arrived and are being distributed to the states and another 3,000 tonnes are on the way, Jaitley added.

In the national capital, imported tur dal (pigeon peas) is being sold at a subsidised rate of Rs 120 per kg at nearly 500 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal.

Watch: Has Dal Become The New Pyaaz? Explaining The Rise In Pulse Prices

“It is a matter of regret that most states are doing nothing to discharge their responsibility in taking action against hoarders. It is only in the last 3-4 days, after the central government amounted pressure, that staggering quantities of 36,000 tonnes of dal have been recovered. Raids are still continuing,” he told reporters after the meeting.

[related-post]

Jaitley warned of penal action against the hoarders even as he expected prices to cool at retail level in the next two-three days after quantity seized in raids as well as those imported are released in the market.

“The raids are still continuing and over the next 2-3 days, more raids which are been conducted by the states, more more hoarded quantity is likely to be recovered,” Jaitley said.

“There is time lag between wholesale price easing and retail price easing… therefore, it is slowly then translated into price easing into the market itself,” he said.