Bhubaneswar / Cuttack, Oct. 28: The state government and Odisha Bybabsai Mahasangha today joined hands and started selling pulses, particularly arhar and moong dal at regulated prices from select outlets across the state.

In the first phase, the sales began in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Brahmapur and Balasore today. More outlets will shortly be opened across the state to bring skyrocketing dal prices under control.

While arhar dal was sold at Rs 140 a kilo, customers purchased moong dal at Rs 110. Each buyer was entitled to one kilogram of dal of any variety. "If a family needs 3kg dal, the family members have to come to the month three times," said an official.

Secretary of food supplies and consumer welfare Madhu Sudan Padhi said: "With the support of traders, the state government will sell the pulses at regulated prices across the state... Hoarding of pulses will not be tolerated."

Padhi also warned that action would be taken against people trying to blackmail the government.

In Bhubaneswar, dal at controlled price was available at Saheed Nagar Kalyan Mandap, Chandrasekharpur Kalayan Mandap and fair price shops at Indradhanu Market in Nayapalli. Another outlet sold the commodity in Bapuji Nagar. In Cuttack, subsidised dal was sold at five places - Buxi Bazar, College Square, Jagatpur, CDA and near the collectorate.

Gitanjali Pradhan, 44, a homemaker and resident of Khandagiri, said: "We are happy to get dal at a fair price. The crack down by the government on the hoarders has also made an impact."

In another development, traders at Malgodown, under the aegis of Cuttack Chamber of Commerce, today withdrew their decision to stop procuring essential commodities including pulses, much to the relief of consumers.

Malgodown supplies dal to nearly 18 districts of the state.

The Cuttack Chamber of Commerce officials announced the resumption of regular trading at Malgodown following an assurance from the district administration to consider their demand of releasing the seized stocks of dal. The officials said the traders at Malgodown would co-operate with the district administration in supplying arhar and moong dal at affordable rates. "On the district administration's request and in the larger interest of consumers, we have called off our strike and normal trading, including procurement of essential commodities, will resume tomorrow," said Sarat Chandra Sahoo, treasurer of the Cuttack Chamber of Commerce.

Cuttack collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said: "If required, more outlets will be opened."