The government has extended the time period for existing stock limits of tur and urad from 30 October, 2023 to 31 December, 2023. An order issued by the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry informed of the same.
The limit for stock for wholesalers and big chain retailers at the depot have been reduced from 200 tonne to 50 tonne each.
The limit for millers has also been reduced from the last 3 months' production or 25 percent of annual capacity, whichever is higher, to last 1 month's production or 10 percent of annual capacity, whichever is higher.
According to the ministry the decision was made to "prevent hoarding and elicit the continuous release of Tur and Urad in sufficient quantities to the market and make tur dal and urad dal available at affordable prices for the consumers."
Each of the pulse will individually have a stock limit of 50 MT (metric tonne) for wholesalers, 5 MT for wholesalers, 5 MT for retailers, 5 MT at each retail outlet, and 50 MT at depot for big chain retailers. Additionally, the stock limit for the millers will be either the last 1 month of production or 10 percent of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher.
The government had issued a stock limit notification on 2 January 2023, for tur and urad in order to prevent hoarding and unethical speculation. This was done to make the grains affordable for the common man.
The Department of Consumer Affairs said that they are "closely monitoring the stock position of tur and urad through stock disclosure portal which has been reviewed on weekly basis with the State Government."
