Odisha asks WB to lift 'restrictions' on potato transportation

Bhubaneswar, Sep 10: Faced with a recurring potato crisis, the Odisha government today asked its West Bengal counterpart to remove "unofficial restrictions" on transportation of the essential vegetable.

In a letter, Odisha Chief Secretary G C Pati has asked his West Bengal counterpart Sanjay Mitra to 'intervene' in the matter personally. "I would like to request you to intervene in the matter personally to remove the unofficial restrictions and facilitate regular supply of potato in the larger interest of our consumers," Pati wrote.

He pointed out that Odisha's daily requirement of potato was about 2,500 MT to 3,000 MT, most of which was sourced from West Bengal. "At present, we are getting only about 25 per cent of the requirement."

Pati said the price of potato in retail market had gone up sharply creating distress to consumers. At present, potato is being sold in Odisha at a price ranging from Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kg.

The potato traders of Odisha also expressed their helplessness as they petitioned that their people were being harassed while getting potato from West Bengal, Pati said in his letter.

Though the situation improved in the second fortnight of August with steady movement of trucks carrying potato from West Bengal, it has again worsened in the last 10 days, he added.

PTI