With major retail chains yet to reduce pulses prices and continuing to book profits due to widening gap between wholesale and retail rates, the Consumer Affairs Ministry has asked Reliance Retail to reduce pulses prices and its margins. Said.
According to two sources aware of the development, the ministry is of the view that once India’s largest retailer adopts these measures, other retailers will also follow suit. The government had on October 8 directed major retail chains to reduce prices but, according to data from the Department of Consumer Affairs, prices of pulses have actually increased instead of falling.
No widespread impact of instructions was seen
On October 7, the average retail price of tur was Rs 163.31 per kg, urad was Rs 124.79 per kg and chana dal was Rs 94.32 per kg. Whereas, according to the website of the Consumer Ministry, the average price of arhar dal on October 16 i.e. Wednesday was Rs 163.07. The average price of urad was Rs 124.77 and that of chana dal was Rs 94.59 per kg. That is, no widespread impact of these instructions of the government was seen.
Government asked Reliance Retail to take initiative
A source familiar with the above matter said that we have asked Reliance Retail to reduce the retail prices of pulses. Reliance Retail’s coverage extends to 4,000 pin codes and once this retail chain starts reducing the prices of pulses, others may be forced to do so.
He said discussions were held between government officials and Reliance Retail officials last week, in which the retail chain agreed that it will align retail prices with wholesale rates so that consumers can benefit from it.
