New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) In an effort to control the rising prices of essential commodities and provide relief to Delhiites, the Delhi government Wednesday launched sale of 10 categories of pulses at rates lower than the prevailing market prices.
“The government would take strict action against hoarders and shopkeepers found selling food items and pulses at higher prices,” said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit after launching the sale of 10 kinds of pulses in east Delhi.

The pulses would be sold though hundreds of outlets of cooperative societies and the government run organisations across the city. The pulses would be available atper kg frate of - arhar dal Rs.66, masoor malka (lal) Rs.55, masoor Mmalka (kali) Rs.46, urad (whole) Rs.47, urad 9washed) Rs.58, kabuli channa Rs.46, rajma chitra Rs.41, channa dal Rs.33, kala channa Rs.32, and moong (washed) Rs.82.

The retail price of moong dal, urad and masoor dal have been in the price range of Rs.80-90 per kg. Sometime back, arhar dal was also being sold at over Rs.100 per kg in the retail market.

Delhi has witnessed a rise in prices of sugar, pulses and other food items in the last several months. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition in Delhi, has attacked the Dikshit-led city government for failing to arrest the price rise.

“In the last six months, Delhi has witnessed unexpected price rise of various commodities, particularly basic food items like sugar, pulses, wheat, rice and vegetables. The sale of reasonably priced pulses and grams would have a moderating impact on the price of these commodities,” Dikshit said.

The chief minister said that NAFED ((National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) would soon start selling sugar at lower rate. At present sugar prices are prevailing at a high of Rs.48 a kg.

On the Republic Day last month, Dikshit had promised that essential food items would soon be available at rates lower than the current market prices.

The government is already selling wheat flour at Rs.139 per bag of 10 kg.

The move was welcomed by Delhiites as they reached the outlets in large numbers to buy pulses at lower rates.

“It is a great step to provide relief to consumers suffering from high prices,” said Sharda Gupta, a resident of east Delhi.