Odisha potato crisis back to square one

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, Aug 24:

After a week-long respite, the potato problem in Odisha is back to square one as the West Bengal government has once again slapped an undeclared restriction on potato transportation to the state.

The neighbouring government’s move is likely to push the price of the kitchen essential even higher even though the state government has been claiming that the state has sufficient stock to deal with the situation.

The West Bengal government, which had unofficially imposed restrictions on potato transportation to Odisha and other states during the end of last month, had allowed the export of potato to the state for a week ending Sunday.

The relaxation was limited. Traders were allowed to send only 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to Odisha every day between August 17 and 23.

The fresh restrictions on tuber transportation has already led a rise in the the price to Rs 28-30 a kg and is likely to increase further in the coming days if the situation continues.

However, the state government claims that the government is well aware of the situation and has stored sufficient potato for the next one month.

“The West Bengal government has clamped down on export of potato to other states once again. However, the state would not face any problem for one month as we have stocked sufficient potato in the last seven days. About 28,800 quintal of potato has come to the state and we have enough stock for next one month. Besides, the West Bengal chief minister would also held a review meeting on the situation,” said the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare minister Sanjay Dasburma.

Sources said, the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department would hold a meeting on Monday to assess the present situation.