2.3 lakh tons imported pulses arrive

NEW DELHI: Government on Thursday said 2.3 lakh tons of imported pulses contracted by state agencies have arrived in India in the past three months.

It also said prices of chana dal increased while those of arhar dal remained steady in retail markets across the country during the week ended July 27.

As on July 24, public sector agencies -- MMTC, STC, PEC and Nafed -- contracted to import 10.38 lakh tons of pulses such as urad, moong, dunpeas, masoor, chickpeas, yellow peas and chana, of which 2.3 lakh tons have reached Indian ports, an official release said.

Retail prices of essential commodities monitored by the consumer affairs ministry at different centres were either stable or increased during the week ended July 27. Prices of wheat, rice, tur (arhar), mustard oil and milk were steady while that of gram (chana) dal, groundnut oil, vanaspati, sugar, tea, potato and salt increased.

However, wheat flour (atta) price declined by Re 1 per kg in Delhi and groundnut oil dipped by Rs 2 a kg in Chennai, the release said.

Items whose prices retail prices increased include potato, gram dal, groundnut oil and tea in Delhi, vanaspati in Kolkata, sugar in Chennai and tea and salt in Mumbai.