The impact of sudden hike in the prices of potato due to less supply from West Bengal has started affecting the street vendors and small shop owners of the city alongwith consumers who are bearing the burnt of the crisis.
Even the Chaat and Pani-Puri sellers, litti-Chokha, Potato Chips sellers and small hotels where Samosas and Potato snacks are sold, are somehow trying to manage their earning and saving from their business.
A litti-Chokha seller Dinesh, who resides at Ratu Road, said that as the price of potatoes has gone so high, now we have just stopped giving additional items such as Chatni, Pickles, Onion and Carrot and this is just to manage our customers and earning. But if the condition remains the same then all the litti sellers will gather and take decision for the price hike, as the present price of litti is Rs 5 for One.
Ramji Sao, a Pani-Puri vendor is in this business for last 20 years near Town Hall says this is the second time the price of the potatoes have gone so high but prior to this the condition of the market was not like this. Sao said prior to the price hike in potatoes, he used to sell eight pani-puris for Rs 10 and Chaat for Rs 10 per plate but now he has reduced it to six pani-puris for Rs 10 and Chaat for Rs15 per plate. And if the condition remains the same he will gradually do some alternative for his earning. Sao also said despite all the management when most of the customers came and asked about the quantity he had a bad reaction and most of them moved back.
Mani, the owner of Hot Chips near Albert Ekka Chowk at Tharpakhana road said that the sale of chips have been affected by the price hike of potatoes and as he had heard from the news that the supply of potatoes from West Bengal has been banned by the WB Government. He said that as he is having chain of hot chips counter all over the State he facing lots of problems for his survival in the market, presently he has just reduced the quantity of chips instead of increasing the price but if the condition deteriorates he would think over increasing the prices.