The prices of most of the pulses, including tur dal, have declined by Rs.5 per kilogram or so,' Agarwal said.

Ajit Kesari, commissioner of food, civil supplies and consumer protection, also said prices of several commodities 'have started declining due to the implementation of the sugar control order'.

Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Paras Jain also indicated that the government would impose stock limits on pulses.

'The government was concerned over prices of pulses and limiting stock would have an impact on prices. Traders would have to take license if they want to stock more than the limit,' the minister told reporters in Ujjain Thursday.

Food department officials said the state would have to depend on imported pulses to meet its high demand.

The central government, which plans to import 400,000 tonnes of pulses, has asked the states to quote their prices for purchase of pulses, which would be followed by fixing of state quotas.

The states have also been asked to pay a month in advance for the pulses supplied to them.