NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: An official statement of the consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry confirmed on Monday that India has received the first tranche of 1,872 tonnes of tur dal. Scarcity of pulses has been reported across the country.

The pulses, whose tender was floated by state-run Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) recently to tame the rising prices, were being allocated to states as per their requirements, the statement said.

"The first tranche of 888 tonnes and 984 tonnes of tur dal arrived at Chennai Port and Mumbai's JNPT on September 23 and September 24 respectively," the statement revealed. The remaining consignment of 5,000 tonnes of tur (pulse), already ordered for the import, would be received soon, it added.

Besides, the MMTC, which handles trading of primary products such as coal, iron ore, and manufactured agro, would also open the bids for importing additional 5,000 tonnes of tur on October 1.

Meanwhile, the consignment of 5,000 tonnes of urad (pulse) from Myanmar will reach India by October 20.

During the fourth meeting of the inter-ministerial committee on prices and availability of essential food items chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary C Viswanath, it was also disclosed that the first tranche of onion is expected to arrive from China and Egypt on October 3.

(With inputs from IANS)