According to a latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the import of pulses led to the losses of Rs 1,201 crore under two schemes since 2006.

The report tabled in the parliament said that both imports failed to stabilise prices due to a possible cartelization of the schemes. The decision to import was taken when Sharad Pawar was food minister. The two schemes were launched in 2006 and 2008 in the country.

The new report is likely to be presented in the parliament on Tuesday, when the MPs would be engaged in the lokpal bill deliberations. The repot showed that the biggest loss was linked to the import of lentils (yellow peas) that are not usually consumed by the people in India, as it accounted for losses of Rs 897 crore.

CAG said in the report that the government decided to import the pulses even as it had unused stocks in the country. The officials in the food ministry said that the decision to import the pulses was taken when there was a global food crisis and the varieties consumed by the people in India were not available.

Poor distribution and delay in moving stocks, amid high inflation, indicated possible hoarding, deputy comptroller and auditor general Malashri Prasad said.