New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS): India, which is facing shortage of pulses, has received the first trance of 1,872 tonnes of tur dal, an official statement said on Monday.

The pulses, whose tender was floated by state-run Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) recently to tame the rising prices, were being allocated to states as per their requirements, it added.

"The first tranche of 888 tonnes and 984 tonnes of tur dal has arrived at Chennai Port and Mumbai's JNPT on September 23 and September 24 respectively," the consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry said in the statement.

The remaining consignment of 5,000 tonnes of tur (pulse), already ordered for the import, would be received soon, it added.

Besides, the MMTC, which handles trading of primary products such as coal, iron ore, and manufactured agro, would also open the bids for importing additional 5,000 tonnes of tur on October 1.

Meanwhile, the consignment of 5,000 tonnes of urad (pulse) from Myanmar will reach India by October 20.

During the fourth meeting of the inter ministerial committee on prices and availability of essential food items chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary C. Viswanath here, it was also disclosed that the first tranche of onion is expected to arrive from China and Egypt on October 3.