Centre asks states not to levy taxes on pulses to cool prices

Worried about a further spike in prices of pulses in coming months, the Centre today asked state governments not to levy local taxes like VAT and mandi fees on dals, besides taking stern action against hoarders to boost supply and bring down rates.

Briefing reporters after the state food ministers’ meet on prices of essential commodities, Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government will consider increasing size of pulse buffer stock to 9 lakh tonnes, from the current 1.5 lakh tonnes as recommended by a departmental committee.

The government is seriously considering hiring a private agency to forecast production, demand and price rise to enable it to make timely policy interventions.

Apart from local tax exemption, Paswan asked the state governments to establish their own Price Stabilisation Fund that can be utilised to check prices of pulses and other essential items.

The states have also been told to fix stock limits for pulse importers, millers, traders and producers separately to ensure smooth supply at reasonable prices.

“Besides pulses, edible oils, sugar and potato, the prices of all other commodities are under control. In the case of pulses, prices are rising due to demand-supply mismatch,” Paswan told media after the meeting.

The gap in demand and supply has widened in the last two years due to drought. Pulse production is around 17 million tonnes while demand is for 23.6 million tonnes.

Although India imported around 5.5 million tonnes of pulses in 2015-16, there is still a shortfall of around 1 million tonnes, putting upward pressure on prices, he added.

In order to keep a tab on pulse prices in coming months, Paswan said, “We have requested states to exempt pulses from VAT and other local taxes in the lean period. It may help cool prices of pulses by 5-7 per cent.”

Stating that prices of food items like pulses shoot up abnormally due to hoarding and cartelisation by traders, he said, “Traders hoard the stock of commodity in a bordering state where stock limits are not imposed. Therefore, there is a need that all states impose and implement stock limits.”

That apart, the minister said, pulse importers should display stock position on public platforms to bring in more transparency about its availability.

Asked if private importers would be asked to register their import contracts, Paswan said, “We don’t want inspector raj, but at the same time, the government needs real-time information.”

According to the government data, the maximum retail prices of urad are ruling at Rs 196 per kg, tur at Rs 170 and gram at Rs 90 today. However, the average price of 93 centres across the country was Rs 170 per kg for urad, Rs 140 for tur and Rs 70 for gram.

Keeping in view the pulse shortage, he said the government agencies should opt for long-term import contracts to boost buffer stock.

The state governments were also asked to set up cold storage facilities for pulses as the commodity has less shelf-life than rice and wheat.

On food law, Paswan said 33 states and Union Territories have rolled out the programme. The remaining three states are expected to implement by July.

The minister asked the states to implement end-to-end computerisation of PDS and link it to the 554 FCI depots, which will be made online by July, adding that this will check leakage of grains and ensure transparency in PDS.

He also pitched for decentralisation of procurement system in the remaining 10 states. The states were told to complete the seeding of aadhar number in ration cards.

Earlier, addressing the conference, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh called on states to increase productivity and production of pulses and oilseeds by utilising the funds under various central schemes like the National Food Security Mission.

He also asked states to co-operate in controlling prices of food items by taking proactive measures.

The government is aiming to double farmers’ income which can be achieved if farmers get better irrigation facilities, fertilisers and market avenues.

Despite drought in 2015-16, foodgrains production is estimated to be slightly better than the previous year, he added.

The meeting was attended by over food ministers of 10 states and others were represented by food and consumer secretaries.