Trucks loaded with potatoes return to West Bengal from Odisha border
Bhubaneswar: As a major shock to consumers, trucks loaded with potatoes returned from the West Bengal – Odisha border, said reports on Friday. The West Bengal administration took the trucks back from the Odisha border.
According to reports, the West Bengal administration has taken back hundreds of potato loaded trucks that were stuck at the Sonakonia check post in Jaleswar of Balasore district in Odisha. Medinipur District Additional SP Saumik Sengupta reached the spot and asked the trucks to head back to West Bengal.
Reports further said that, more than 200 trucks loaded with potatoes were stuck at Sonakonia check post on National Highway No. 60 since yesterday. Traders earlier today said that the prices are increasing because potatoes are not being imported from West Bengal.
Earlier today, the Odisha food supplies minister has surveyed the potato godowns, and promised strict action on erring traders. The potato prices in Odisha has become a major matter of concern. The price of the quintessential vegetable has touched Rs. 50 per kilo.
Meanwhile, Food supplies Minister Krishnachandra Patro has reviewed the situation in Aiginia potato godown in Bhubaneswar. The minister said that some unscrupulous traders are behind the sudden increase in potato prices. They are being monitored. The government shall take strict action in this regard.
A meeting will be held with the West Bengal government this afternoon. The government is trying to find out how to import potatoes from West Bengal. The minister further added that that if the situation does not improve, potatoes are planned to be brought from Uttar Pradesh.
It is worth mentioning that, the import of potatoes from West Bengal has stopped. All the states generally depend on West Bengal for potato. However, due to the strike of cold storage owners in West Bengal, there is now a potato crisis in Odisha.
Due to this all of a sudden, the price of a sack of this quintessential vegetable has risen to Rs. 500 as compared the earlier price of Rs. 300 per sack. In the retail market, potato is being sold at Rs 45 to 50 per kg. If this situation of strike continues, then the crisis and the price will increase further. However, the Odisha state traders association has demanded that the government should immediately discuss with West Bengal authorities and try their best to solve the potato crisis in the state at the earliest.
The consumers have expressed their utter dismay on the skyrocketing prices of these common household vegetables, especially potatoes. The people whose earning is below the income threshold and middle class families have been badly affected due to rising cost of living. Due to the lack of cold storage facilities in various districts to store the produced crops the prices are increasing with each passing day, the local traders said.
