Imported Tur Dal being sold at Kendriya Bhandars in Delhi at the rate of Rs 120/kg.

NEW DELHI: Amid tur dal prices soaring to a record-high of Rs 200 per kg, government outlets have stepped up the sale of imported arhar dal, selling over 200 quintals at Rs 120 per kg in last four days.

“Over 100 outlets of Kendriya Bhandar and Safal sold over 200 quintals of arhar dal in Delhi at Rs 120 per kg during last 4 days,” an official spokesperson said in a tweet.

Hundred outlets of Kendriya Bhandar have sold 105 quintals of tur, also known as arhar dal, during last four days at Rs 120 per kg.

Besides, Safal has sold 99 quintals through 11 outlets in Delhi during last three days, he added.

Retail tur dal prices today shot up to Rs 200 per kg despite the government’s steps to boost supply and check prices, aggravating consumers’ woes.

Till last week, tur was available at Rs 185 per kg in the retail market.

The prices of pulses have increased unabated in the last few months due to fall in domestic output by about 2 million tonnes (mt) to 17.20 mt in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) owing to deficient monsoon and unseasonal rains.

As per the data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the maximum retail price of tur soared to Rs 200 per kg today, as against Rs 85 per kg in the year-ago period.

In the last five years, retail tur prices were ruling in the range of Rs 74-85 per kg, the data showed.

Urad, too, was retailing high at Rs 170 per kg today though it declined from Rs 187 per kg last week, but rates are still way higher than Rs 98 per kg that prevailed a year earlier.

In a bid to prevent hoarding, the government had yesterday imposed stock limits on pulses held by departmental stores, licensed food processors, importers and exports.

There are stock limits already on traders.

Besides, state-owned MMTC has imported 5,000 tonnes of tur dal and floated revised tenders for import of 2,000 tonnes of chickpeas and is planning to float fresh bids for overseas purchase of additional tur dal to boost supply.

The Centre has asked all state governments to take the subsidised imported pulses from MMTC and supply in their states to bring down prices.