Once again Odisha's consumers are going to face tough time due to shortage of potato, thanks to the fresh restrictions imposed by the Government of West Bengal.
All on a sudden the flow of truckloads to Odisha has gone down from December 17 and the traders have hiked the price of potato in the market from Thursday.
While Bhubaneswar used to receive 20 to 30 truckloads of potato daily, since December 17 it has come down to seven. And sensing paucity of the vegetable, traders have hiked the rates from Rs 15 a kg to Rs 20 a kg.
Taking this into account, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Food, Supplies and Consumer Welfare Madhu Sudan Padhi has talked to the concerned authorities of the West Bengal Government requesting them to allow normal flow of potato to Odisha.
Notably, earlier, the WB Government had put restrictions on the movement of potato to Odisha on October 23, due to which the price of the vegetable had gone up to Rs 50 a kg in November.
In this situation, the Odisha Government decided to import potato from Uttar Pradesh and services of the NAFED were roped in, which eased the market condition. later, the WB Government lifted the restrictions on November 20 and normalcy in the potato movement was restored with the price coming down to Rs 10 a kg.
Now, for last two to three days, the potato movement from West Bengal has gone down, and sensing the shortage the traders have started hiking the rates.
Odisha is receiving potato from Pashcim Midnapur district of WB and potato-laden trucks are facing tough time at the Sonakonia check-post under the Danton police station in WB.
Unofficial sources say the movement of potato has been restricted on various alibis and the Agricultural Marketing Department (NAFED) officials are feigning ignorance about such restrictions to Odisha officials.
Sources said Odisha's elected representatives are arguing with the State Government to put restrictions on the movement of fish trucks to West Bengal in a tit-for-tat treatment.
Related report on Page 3