New Delhi: Asking different states to continue raids to check hoarders, the union government on Thursday said over 1.2 lakh tonnes of pulses had been seized across the country so far.

"The state governments have continued operations to check hoarding of pulses. So far 9,304 raids have been conducted and 1,20,907.90 tonnes of pulses seized," union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution said in a statement.

The ministry advised the state governments to continue the drive against hoarders under the Essential Commodities Act.

The seized pulses would be released in retail markets across the country to tame skyrocketing prices, that touched Rs.200 per kg for arhar.

Earlier, state-run Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) had floated a tender to import 18,000 tonnes of pulses (both tur and urad).

(IANS)