At a time when prices of essential commodities have witnessed a steep rise, the state government’s inefficiency has left a stock of nearly 3,800 metric tonnes of pulses unfit for human consumption. This stock had been supplied by the Centre at a heavily subsidised rate. But common man could not benefit from it.

Going by the records of the ration shops — through which the stock is now being distributed — there are very few takers for this pulse. For about six months, the stock had been kept in the warehouse and with traders for de-husking.

In March 2009, a consignment of 3,800 MT of masoor dal was supplied to the state at a subsidised rate of Rs 36 per kg through Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC), a Central government enterprise. The price of the same pulse in the open market had been hovering around Rs 72 a kg at that time. The consumer price was fixed at Rs 42 per kg after the necessary de-husking.

The distribution, however, was started almost six months later, from the second week of September. According to reports, only 250 ration dealers — out of 2,000 in the city — lifted the stock of pulses.

“I lifted around 500 kg on September 2. After two weeks, I have been able to sell only about 5 kg, as the pulses have developed fungus,” said Brijmohan Gupta, a ration shop dealer of Bullygunj in south Kolkata.

“We have received reports that the quality of pulses is not good so the ration dealers are not lifting the stock. We are looking into the matter,” said Paresh Adhikari, the state Food and Supplies Minister.

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