Zee Media BureauNew Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared reimbursement of Rs 113 crore of losses on
pulses imported between 2006-11 by four government agencies – NAFED, MMTC, PEC and STC .
Cabinet has also approved import of 5,000 tonnes each of Tur and Urad Dal by MMTC for retail distribution to consumers by September 5.
State-run MMTC had floated tenders for importing 5,000 tonnes of tur and urad dal after the prices of both the pulses rose by more than 60 percent in the first week of July.
The retail prices of most pulses including tur had crossed Rs 100 per kg following a supply crunch due to a decline in domestic production.
Total production of pulses is estimated to have fallen to 17.38 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 19.25 million tonnes in the previous year due to deficient monsoon and unseasonal rains.
With PTI Inputs
First Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2015, 13:22