Odisha Govt, Opposition Slugfest Over Credit For ‘Resumption’ Of Potato Supply

Bhubaneswar: The political tug-of-war between the Odisha government and the Opposition over prevailing potato crisis continued on Saturday with senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra claiming that the supposed resumption of supply of the tuber was because of Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik’s letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“The LoP has been chief minister of the state for five terms and also served as a cabinet minister. He is an influential leader of state and concerned for the affairs of the state which is why he requested the Bengal CM to ensure potato supply to Odisha. The letter definitely had an impact as the supply has resumed. Trucks have started arriving in the state as being reported in media and also confirmed by the minister concerned,” Mishra said.

Earlier in the day, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that the supply has resumed following talks with officials of the neighbouring state. “Potato price has started to drop and it is being sold at Rs 34-35/kg at different market places. Things will improve further once more trucks arrive in the state,” he told reporters.

He added that only 8-9 cold storages are functional in the state.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also held talks with his Bengal counterpart in New Delhi over the issue, seeking early solution to the problem. Both CMs are in the national capital to attend the NITI Aayog meeting.

These statements have come amid reports that potato-laden trucks have started arriving in Odisha from West Bengal through ‘illegal route’ and truckers are bribing police in border areas to let them in.

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Notably, Naveen’s letter to West Bengal CM, requesting her to ensure smooth supply of potatoes to Odisha, had not gone down well with the state BJP, which blamed the previous BJD government’s Potato Mission failure for the crisis.