Odisha will now receive potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and will discontinue importing them from West Bengal.
The Minister clarified that the procurement of potatoes from West Bengal will be gradually reduced and eventually stopped.
Arpit Pattnaik
The State government of Odisha has decided to address the scarcity and high prices of potatoes in the market. Due to the ongoing issue, the government plans to procure potatoes from Uttar Pradesh instead of West Bengal. The decision was shared by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra, on Thursday.
It was mentioned that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had approached West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, during the NITI Aayog meeting to resolve the crisis, but no action was taken. Consequently, a meeting was held with the Odisha Byabasai Mahasangha at the State Secretariat, leading to the conclusion that potatoes would no longer be sourced from West Bengal.
The Minister stated that the procurement of potatoes from West Bengal would be gradually reduced and eventually stopped. Initially, permission has been granted to procure 20 trucks of potatoes from Uttar Pradesh in the first phase, with the expectation of stabilizing the price at around Rs 30 per kg. Furthermore, efforts will be made to regulate the prices of onion, garlic, and ginger.
The Minister also alleged that TMC affiliates are causing disturbances and extorting money at the border, with the involvement of the police. However, no response has been received from the West Bengal government regarding this matter. It has been observed that the price of potatoes in Odisha has surged due to disruptions in the supply from West Bengal.
