Bhubaneswar, April 23: The state government will intervene to control the skyrocketing prices of pulses by procuring the essential commodity from the Centre and selling it to consumers through fair price shops.

Food supplies and consumer welfare secretary Madhusudan Padhi said: "We will send requisitions to the Centre asking for about 5,000 tonnes of pulses, especially arhar and channa dal."

Arhar dal is being sold at Rs 148 to Rs 150 a kg at the retail markets now. The rate of chana dal has also gone up to Rs 80 to Rs 82 a kg as compared to Rs 73 to Rs 78 last week. Moong dal is selling at Rs 110 a kg and biri dal at Rs 138 to Rs 140 a kg at the moment.

Odisha depends on states such as Maharastra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for pulses. The high cost in the producing states have contributed to the price rise in Odisha.

The state requires seven lakh tonnes of pulses every year while less than one lakh tonnes are produced here.

Secretary of the Federation of All-Odisha Traders' Associations Sudhakar Panda welcomed the decision of the state government. "If arhar dal is procured from the Centre, its price should remain within Rs 120 a kg after taking into account milling charge and transportation cost," said Panda.

Home-maker Minati Sahoo is happy with the government's decision. She said: "I hope the price of dal comes down once the government starts selling it at fair price shops."