Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu have placed requirements for over one Lakh Metric Tonnes of Tur under retail intervention scheme of price moderation of pulses and more States are expected to come forward in the near future. In order to moderate the retail prices of pulses, Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, had, in September, introduced a mechanism to supply pulses from the buffer stock to States and UTs through NAFED. <br />''<br />''It was decided that States and UTs would be supplied pulses in bulk and in retail packs for retail supply through fair price shops of PDS and other marketing or retail outlets of the State Government such as Dairy and Horticulture outlets and Consumers Cooperative Society outlets. To make the retail intervention impactful on the retail prices confronting the consumer, the offer price of pulses for retail intervention has been fixed on the basis of Minimum Support Price MSP or the Dynamic Reserve Price DRP whichever is lower.<br />''<br />''Accordingly, Dhuli Urad is being offered to States and UTs for retail intervention at 79 rupees per kilo for K-18 stock of Kharif-2018 and 81 rupees per kilo for K-19. Similarly, Tur is offered for retail intervention at 85 rupees per kilo. <br />''<br />''Apart from this retail intervention, Department of Consumer Affairs has also decided to release 40 thousand Metric Tonnes of Tur from the buffer stock in Open Market Sale in small lots so that the releases may reach the retail market at faster pace and help in cooling off rising prices.<br />''<br />''The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said<b>, </b>it has been seen in the last fortnight that despite nearing Kharif harvest season of Tur and Urad, the retail prices of these pulses have not only remained high as compared to last year, but also recorded a spurt recently. It said, as on yesterday, the all-India average retail price of Tur and Urad was observed to have increased by 23.71 per cent and 39.10 per cent over last year. Several consuming centers of these pulses have recorded an increase of over 20 per cent during the past 15 days.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The Centre took the visionary step in 2016 for creating a buffer stock of pulses and onions, so that retail prices of these commodities could be moderated through a strategy of calibrated and targeted intervention. The objective is to obtain price data from all over the country and get real-time information of price trends, on the basis of which deployment from buffer stock is ensured. </span><br />