Potato Crisis: Odisha Govt To Provide 3 Kg At Rs 100 In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Amid little respite from the ongoing potato crisis in Odisha, consumers can now expect to get the tuber at an affordable price with the arrival of fresh consignment in Bhubaneswar.

The state government on Saturday stated that potato will be made available to the consumers Rs 100 for three kg as fresh stock has already arrived in the state.

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has started making available potato at government fair price shops under the jurisdiction of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), sources said.

The dealers have been instructed to provide three kgs of potatoes to each family at Rs 100 to all ration card holders and other people. The process will continue till the market rates stabilise, said a senior official.

Stating that adequate stock has been procured by the government, he said consumers will now be able to get the tuber at affordable price.

However, despite the arrival of fresh stock of potatoes, consumers claimed that there is still fluctuation in the prices in wholesale and retail markets in Odisha. This is creating problems as well as confusion among the consumers

The price of potato registered a marginal drop on Saturday. However, the rate ranges from Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kilo. “We urge Odisha government to take steps so that we get potatoes at cheaper rates,” said a consumer while expressing concern over the price rise of the essential commodity
trader at Aiginia godown said,

“Already 20 to 21 trucks have reached today and potato is being sold at Rs 29 to Rs 30. As there is no check on the retail market, people are selling at a high rate. It seems that there is some politics which has led to a price rise. Several trucks loaded with potatoes from Uttar Pradesh to Assam via West Bengal have also been detained.”