New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS): To check the prevailing spike in prices of pulses, the state-run MMTC will soon make available 10,000 tonnes of pulses in the domestic market, the government announced on Friday.

"MMTC has assured that 10,000 tonnes of pulses will arrive soon," the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution said in a statement here.

The public sector trading body recently floated a tender to procure 10,000 tonnes of pulses (5,000 tonnes each of Urad and Tur) from the international market. MMTC handles trading of primary products such as coal, iron ore, and manufactured agro and industrial products.

The ministry has asked the state-run Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) to expedite import of the essential commodity to ease its availability in the domestic market.

It has also urged the state governments to gear up distribution of pulses through retail outlets.

The export of pulses has already been banned and there is zero duty on their import.