Guntur, July 18 :-
The government would take all steps to regulate soaring prices of pulses in the market, stated Finance Minister Mr K Rosaiah here on Saturday.
Expressing concern over the rising prices of pulses in the state, he said that the prices of red gram, green gram, black gram, Bengal gram have hit the roof in all states and not only in Andhra Pradesh.
Talking to media persons, the Finance Minister said the government would convene a meeting with officials concerned in ten days and discuss ways to regulate the prices.
He said the government would import pulses from Africa to meet the situation. The government has called for global tenders for importing pulses. But it received poor response from bidders, he pointed out.
The government would promote cultivating pulses, which was plagued by a plethora of problems and extend subsidy and other benefits to farmers. He asked the banks to play a more proactive role to promote agriculture sector.
He attributed the soaring prices of pulses to poor rainfall and low production in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
He criticised Bharatiya Janata Party for staging dharnas only in Andhra. Why the BJP is not staging any agitations in Karnataka, where the BJP government totally failed to check prices of pulses and essential commodities? he questioned.