New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS): Over 50,000 tonnes of pulses have been seized from 10 states after the state governments intensified crackdown against hoarding and black marketing of the commodity, an official statement said on Friday.

"De-hoarding operations across the states have resulted in seizure of more 50,475.25 tonnes of pulses have been seized in 10 states so far," the consumer affairs ministry said in a statement.

The state governments were exhorted to carry out surprise inspections and raids to prevent hoarding. As a result, a total of 50,475.25 tonnes of pulses have been seized during 3,149 raids carried out in 10 states, it said.

A maximum quantity of 30,373 tonnes was seized in Maharashtra, followed by 5,967.34 tonnes in Karanataka, 4,525.19 tonnes in Chhattisgarh, 2,546 tonnes in Telangana, 2,295 tonnes in Madhya Pradesh, 2,151.44 tonnes in Rajasthan, 1,932.07 tonnes in Haryana, 859.87 tonnes in Andhra Pradesh, 4.32 tonnes in Tamil Nadu and 2.44 tonnes in Himachal Pradesh, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the as a result of government action there has been a slide of about Rs. 200 per quintal in the mandi rates of pulses.

Decrease in retail prices of pulses has also been seen in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.