The price of potato still remained high on Tuesday despite arrival of 28 tuber loaded trucks from Ranchi and West Bengal. The vegetable was being sold for Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg as the fresh supply was not sufficient.
On Monday, 17 trucks of tuber had arrived in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The Tuesday supplies from Ranchi, Bangalore and West Bengal were brought in by various State trader unions at their own risk. So far, the State Government had not even able to bring a single truck of potato from outside after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee did not respond positively to the request of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for lifting the ban on outflow of potato from her State. Similarly, the Government’s effort to source potato from UP and Bihar by mobilising the Governments there still had not borne any result.
“Potato is now available at the open markets, though price has not stabilised. It has been possible after some fresh arrival of potato stock in the State. Once, the supply becomes smooth, we will enforce a reasonable price,” said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Secretary Madhusudan Padhi, clarifying that the Government will not impose any restriction on the current price at least for the time being.
“If the present flow in supply of potato continues for next two to three days, the price will be normal,” Padhi hoped. Besides, the 28 trucks of potato to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, meanwhile report said four potato-laden trucks reached Baleswar, Rourkela and Nayagarh.