The minister has said that Odisha has enough potato stocks to meet the demand of consumers for the next seven to eight days.

Bhubaneswar: As potato prices suddenly spiked in Odisha due to supply disruption from West Bengal, state food supply and consumer welfare minister Krishna Chandra Patra on Friday assured that the issue would be resolved within two days.

“We discussed with the West Bengal authorities and they said that the strike of potato farmers in West Bengal, which started from July 21, ended on July 24. It will take another two to three days to resolve all related issues. Vehicles carrying potatoes will reach Odisha in a day or two and the situation will return to normal soon, Patra said after a high-level meeting of the department.

The minister also said that Odisha has sufficient stock of potato to meet the demands of consumers for the next seven to eight days and authorities have been directed to take strict action against traders if they are found selling potatoes at more than Rs 32 per kg.

Earlier, Patra had also asserted that the government would import potatoes from Uttar Pradesh if required to meet demand and control price hike. He criticized former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik for his letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting his intervention to ensure smooth supply of potatoes.

“Please stop this cheap politics. Despite being in power for 24 years, he failed to solve a single problem. Your potato and onion campaign failed. During your 24-year rule, Odisha could not become self-sufficient in potatoes, onions, eggs, fish or any other food. Nothing will be achieved through these dramas,” Patra added.

Earlier, Patnaik demanded the West Bengal Chief Minister's intervention in the matter to ensure smooth supply of potatoes. He said that due to the rains, the supply of potato in the Odisha market has decreased, resulting in an increase in prices. “

It is understood from media reports that long queues of trucks loaded with potatoes were formed at the border of West Bengal. Request Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal @MamataOfficialji to please intervene in this matter & ensure smooth supply of potatoes to #Odisha,” Patnaik posted on his 'X' handle on Friday.

(with input from agencies)