To prevent hoarding and the resultant price rise of food items, the Chhattisgarh government has said shopkeepers and whole-sellers can not hold more than a thousand quintals of pulses and excess stock must be sold in market.
"Food, civil supply and consumer protection department has issued a circular to all the district collectors asking them to keep a tab on availability and sale of pulses in the market," a department official said here.
The prices of some pulses, especially arhar, chana (gram) and masoor dal (red lentils) have sky-rocketed in the last four months which prompted the move, he said.
The holding stock of pulses should not go beyond 1,000 quintals, he added.
The collectors have been asked to hold meetings with whole-sellers and retailers to ensure the availability of pulses.
They have also been directed to carry out surprise inspections to check hoarding of essential food commodities.
