Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (IANS): With the price of pulses skyrocketing in the state due to short supply, the Odisha government on Thursday urged the Centre to provide sufficient pulses to meet the demands.

Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma said the state government has requested the central government to expedite the process for supply of additional pulses through Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC).

The minister, who reviewed the 'dal' shortage at a meeting of state officials here, said that Odisha is feeling the pinch of price-rise as it depends on other states to meet its requirements.

Odisha purchases four lakh tonnes of pulses every year from outside the state. However, the production of pulses has come down by 25 percent in the country due to scanty rainfall this monsoon, said the minister.

He said the pulse price problem would be set right by November 15 as farmers would start harvesting the crop by then.

The minister also urged the central government to notify the actual price of imported pulses so that black marketing can be reined in. He also asked the central government to release Rs.50 crore as revolving fund for price stabilisation.

The district collectors have been asked to have coordination with the traders and keep a close watch on hoarders and black marketers.