Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), July 26: With potato prices soaring in Odisha, the state government issued a warning on Friday that strict measures will be taken against traders involved in hoarding and black marketing. Amidst the rising cost of vegetables, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra assessed the situation by visiting a potato godown at Aiginia in Bhubaneswar.
Following a detailed review, Patra announced that necessary actions will be implemented to protect consumer interests and that stringent penalties will be enforced against those responsible for creating an ‘artificial scarcity’ leading to the price hike.
Patra assured that there is enough potato stock in the state to meet demand for the next seven to eight days. He criticized traders for exploiting the situation, particularly since the supply of potatoes from West Bengal has ceased.
An urgent meeting has been convened to address the issue, and the government is prepared to import potatoes from Uttar Pradesh if necessary, Patra stated.
He also blamed the previous BJD government for the current crisis, citing failures in potato and onion missions, infrastructure development, and production increases. The retail price of potatoes has surged to Rs 45-50 per kg, nearly doubling from Rs 30 per kg on July 20, putting a significant strain on consumers.
