Urad import rules eased to avert shortage

New Delhi: Sensing a likely shortage of urad dal in the months ahead, the government plans to relax the time limit for importing the commodity by three months. By the current mandate, the industry can import up to 4 lakh tonnes of urad dal, or black gram, in the current fiscal. The plan is to extend the period by three months to June 2020, as only half the quota is utilised so far. The move comes at time the industry is demanding removal of quantitative curbs on the lentil.

A commerce ministry source said that as the demand of pulses is on the rise, “as a precautionary measure, the government may extend the imports of up to 4 lakh tonnes for another three months till June 2020, instead of end of this fiscal.”

In December, the commerce ministry had raised the quota of urad import, by millers and refiners, to 4 lakh tonnes, from 1.5 lakh tonnes, for FY20.

“Only 2 lakh tonnes of urad has been imported so far. The pulses situation was reviewed recently by the concerned ministries and a consensus has emerged to give time till June for undertaking the import of rest of the quota” the source said.

The industry is expecting a shortage of the lentil and has urged the Centre to remove quantitative curbs on urad.

Bimal Kothari, vice-chairman, Indian Pulses and Grains Association, said, “There could be a 50 per cent fall in urad output this time because of severe damage to the kharif crop.”