Traders who have imported about 15,000 tons of pigeon pea (toor dal) are trapped with procedural issues related to “time of export”, after the government changed its policy for the import of pulses from “restricted” to the “free” category.
These importers had warehoused the goods in free trade warehousing zones (FTWZs) even before the May 15 government notification on changing the category to “free.” The question now is whether the pulses already lying in the warehouses can avail of the benefit. Some of the FTWZs where the goods are stored, including the Mundra in Gujarat, have approached the commerce ministry seeking clarity.
The government has removed the import of pulses from the restricted category from May till the end of October. India imports toor dal from Myanmar (which is currently under strict lockdown due to a spike in Covid-19 cases), Sudan (harvest ends in March), Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania (which are facing Covid-related supply chain disruptions), said industry trackers. And a “pragmatic approach” by the government to release the cargo would help improve supplies and control prices.