POINT COUNTERPOINT
Marathon meetings and price promises notwithstanding, Ranchi remains caught in dal dilemma while Dhanbad, Bokaro and Jamshedpur reluctantly mull affordability tests for the arhar variety.
On Sunday, food and civil supplies secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey, following talks with millers, wholesalers and retailers, fixed the arhar rate at Rs 145 a kg for consumers statewide. On Tuesday, most groceries in the capital city sold the pricey lentils at Rs 160-175 a kg. Others have decided not to replenish dal stocks till market rates stop fluctuating.
The state-run Suvidha Kendras or convenience stores are the only ones in Ranchi selling arhar dal for Rs 145. On the other hand, general stores in Jamshedpur are already following the new price while Dhanbad and Bokaro zilla chambers are attempting the ambitious rate cut within the next three days.
A grocer in Kadru, Ranchi, conceded that dal at his store wasn't as cheap as expected from Monday because the wholesale rates were higher than proposed. "I had purchased arhar when it was available at Rs 180 a kg. If I sell at Rs 145 a kg, I will incur heavy losses," he said, requesting anonymity.
Narayani Bhandar in Kishoreganj area of the capital has decided not to sell arhar altogether. "Customers do not want the dal. They stopped buying ever since prices surged beyond Rs 200. They are falling back on masoor now because it is available at Rs 90 a kg. There is no reason to stock arhar," said an employee.
The owner of Narayani Bhandar quipped that he was asking his customers to savour vegetable biryani instead of dal-bhat. "It is cost-effective. I speak from personal experience," he added.
Ganesh Stores and Sukumar Stores in Harmu too have stopped selling the arhar variety. "Buying at Rs 180 a kg and selling at Rs 145 a kg can't be profitable ever," frowned Pawan Kumar of Sukumar Stores. Ganesh Singh added, "It is wiser to stock up on other varieties."
Septuagenarian businessman Shanti Lal, who runs Prabhat Bhandar on Ranchi's Radium Road, said he hadn't sold arhar for a week to buffer the price blow. "But today (Tuesday), I sent my staff to Pandra Market. Let them return and then I can fix my dal rates," he added.
At retail chain Reliance Fresh in Lalpur, arhar was tagged as high as Rs 175 per kg. "Our price is decided in Mumbai. So, it cannot be changed just like that," said a salesman.
Secretary of Annapurna Mahila Samiti Minky Devi, who runs a dal-bhat centre in Kutchery, said it always took time for government decisions to come into effect. "Last evening (Monday), my staff were asked to pay Rs 1,600 for 10kg of arhar dal. So, we decided to mix arhar and masoor for meals now on," she added.
FJCCI president Pawan Sharma admitted that not all groceries were selling arhar at Rs 145. "Prices will be under control within a day or two. At shops 1, 256 and 259 in Pandra, wholesale arhar is available at Rs 140 a kg. Retailers can purchase from there and sell at the fixed rate," Sharma said.
The Suvidha Kendra at Kutchery and Gupta Bhandar, a famous grocery on Main Road, sold the dal at Rs 145 on Tuesday.
Bistupur-based retailer Subhas Mandal said most stores in Jamshedpur were also adhering to the food and civil supplies department's order. "We are selling arhar at Rs 145 a kilo since yesterday (Monday). We are hopeful that the sale of the dal, which has dropped because of price surge, will pick up soon."
President of Federation of Dhanbad Zilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rajesh Gupta said they had moved a step forward than the state government to cut rates to Rs 138 and Rs 142 in wholesale and retail, respectively. "We have sought three days' time to effect the changes," he said, but conceded that the lentils might not be of premium quality.
With inputs from Dhanbad, Bokaro and Jamshedpur
