Pulse stock: Centre directs states, UTs to enforce weekly stocks disclosure to ensure market availability

The Central Government directed all states and union territories (UTs) on Wednesday, April 11, to enforce weekly stock disclosure of pulses by all stockholding entities and verify the stocks declared by them.

According to the press release by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, stocks of pulses located in warehouses of major ports and industry hubs will be verified on a regular basis, and strict action will be taken on stockholding entities if they report false information on the stock disclosure portal.

The states and UTs were informed of the necessity of keeping a closer eye on pulse prices and stock positions in order to avoid market manipulation and hoarding, the release added.

In a virtual meeting with pulses importer associations and other pulses industry representatives, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, discussed issues relating to import and stock disclosure.

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

In this regard, the Department of Consumer Affairs has updated the https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp/ stock disclosure site to add Big Chain Retailer and Yellow Peas as entities, which will be operational from April 15, the statement further mentioned.

In addition to the five main pulses—Tur, Urad, Chana, Masur, and Moong—the states and UTs have been requested to keep an eye on the stock level of imported yellow peas. To increase the total supply of pulses, the import of yellow peas has been permitted starting on December 8, 2023, and lasting until June 30, 2024.

Khare ''stressed the need to ensure that imported yellow peas are continuously released in the market. Similarly, stocks of Tur, Urad, and Masur with importers are to be monitored for smooth and continuous release in the market'', the statement further added.