Pulses exported despite ban

Manas R Bannerjee

MALDA, July 1. — Despite a prohibitory order on export of pulses to Bangladesh, nearly 100 MT of masoor pulses were exported to that country through the Mahadipur Land Customs station in Malda on 29 June, officials admitted. To control spiralling prices of essential commodities in the country, something that is troubling the UPA government at the Centre, the ministry of commerce had issued an order to stop export of pulses to Bangladesh with effect from 27 June. The assistant commissioner of customs (Malda) has sought an explanation from the superintendent of Mahadipur LC station about violation of the prohibitory order to stop export of pulses. The commissioner of customs in Kolkata also detected the violation after a visit to the Land Customs station on 29 June. The officials visited the Hilli Land Customs station in south Dinjapur to check records of export of essential commodities like rice, wheat, sugar and pulses. To check price hike of essential commodities in the country, the government is trying hard to frame a specific policy for export to countries such as Bangladesh. An official source said essential commodities like rice, wheat, pulses and sugar have been exported though other LC stations in north and south Bengal even after the prohibitory order came into effect. Three Malda ’customs house agents’ (authorised exporters) have been identified in Malda who exported the processed masoor pulses to Bangladesh via Mahadipur LC station. India imports raw masoor from Australia and Turkey. The agriculture produce was processed in India, the source said. “It is an internal matter of our department. I cannot discuss it with the Press,” said Mr PK Kundu, superintendent of Mahadipur LC station. “Masoor pulses were exported to Bangladesh on 29 June morning. We received the prohibitory order (to stop export of pulses) after 1 p.m. We carried out our duty based on the latest orders. There is no question of violation,” Mr Kundu finally told The Statesman over the phone. The ministry of commerce has sent another order to restrict sugar export to Bangladesh, based on some conditions. “We are now following the latest orders from the ministry of commerce, but are in dark about wheat export to Bangladesh,” Mr Kundu said. SNS.

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