Crackdown begins on Potato Hoarders in Bhubaneswar

The Odisha Government has finally stepped in after the West Bengal government withdrew its potato-laden trucks from the border and stopped the supply of potatoes completely to the state. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has seized two trucks of potato near Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar.

The trucks with 640 packets of potatoes, had reached Aiginia Mandi from West Bengal after being blocked on the way for long. These potatoes were supplied to 169 fair price shops and five Maitree shops to be sold at Rs 22 per kg. In other markets, potatoes are being sold at Rs 25-30 per kg.

Bhubaneswar used to receive about 40 trucks of potatoes every day. However, now only two trucks are coming to city, triggering a crisis at a time when the vegetable prices have soared to a record high.