Bhubaneswar: To fulfill the need of consumers of Odisha, the State Government has planned to procure the tuber from Uttar Pradesh as supply from neighboring West Bengal was stopped.
The potato price has reached Rs 50 a kg in local markets in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
To monitor the situation on ground, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra visited a potato stockyard at Aiginia in Bhubaneswar and said that the state has required potato stock to meet the requirement for seven days.
However, the Minister admitted that there was an unusual price rise in the market and he has asked the officials to initiate stern action against hoarders and those selling potatoes at higher prices.
“There is sufficient stock of potatoes in the State which could cater to the needs for seven or eight days. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for creating artificial scarcity and price hike of potatoes in Odisha market,” Patra told media persons.
He said that the dealers are purchasing a kilo of potato at the rate of Rs 26 and the people should get the tuber at the rate of Rs 35 per kg. However, the price of potato remained at about Rs 50 a kg in the open market, he pointed out.
Patra said the State government was contemplating to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh.
The Minister also blamed the previous BJD government for the potato price rise. “The previous government could not operate required cold storages in the state. This apart, the state government’s potato mission has also completely failed,” he said.
Patra said that the price rise of potatoes is due to halt in supply from West Bengal. The supply from the neighbouring state remained suspended due to the strike by cold storage owners in West Bengal.
The issue was also raised in the Assembly during Zero Hour. Balasore MLA Manas Dutta expressed concern over the non-supply of potatoes from West Bengal.
“If the West Bengal government continues to stop supply, we will be forced to stop vehicles carrying essential items to Bengal,” Dutta said while drawing the attention of the State government.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has written a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene in the matter and ensure smooth supply of potato to Odisha.
“As you know, potatoes are an essential item for our people. Due to the rains, there has been a short supply of potatoes in the Odisha market, resulting in an artificial price hike adding to the sufferings of the common person,” Patnaik said in his letter to Mamata.
He said that long queues of trucks (more than 50) loaded with potatoes are waiting at the West Bengal Odisha border.
“On earlier similar occasions, your noble gesture has earned the love and affection of our people. People of Odisha and West Bengal have strong cultural bonds and we are ant devotees of Mahaprabhu Sri Jagannath,” he mentioned.
The former CM requested Mamata to kindly intervene in the matter and ensure smooth supply of potatoes to Odisha.