Maha govt may exempt pulses importers from stock holding limit

To ensure smooth supply of imported pulses and check prices, the Maharashtra government is working out a mechanism for exempting importers of pulses from the ambit of stock holding limits.

Last week, India Pulses and Grains Association had made a representation to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking exemption from stock holding limit imposed by the Union Government on October 18 to check hoarding.

The Association had also offered to supply 100 tonnes of imported tur dal at Rs 130 per kg on a daily basis for a month to boost supply in the state.

"The Centre has forwarded the Association's demand to the Maharasthra government. The state government has held several rounds of meetings with importers on the issue. It is working on some mechanism," sources said.

The state government is scheduled to hold another round of meeting later in the day to finalise both the stock holding limit issue as well as purchase of imported tur dal from importers, sources added.

Gujarat has already relaxed norms for stock holding limits on importers in the state. The Maharashtra government may also work out a model on similar lines, they said.

The average stock holding limit for importers is about 300-350 tonnes in states.

The Association has offered to supply daily 100 tonnes of imported tur dal at Rs 130/kg from three locations -- Nagpur, Khopoli and Malkapur -- for a month.

According to IPGA, importers have already contracted 25 lakh tonnes of pulses for delivery till January and about 2.5 lakh tonnes are lying at ports.

Pulses prices have risen across the country because of shortfall in domestic output by two million tonnes in 2014-15 and also because of poor rains. There is a global shortage of lentils as well.