Potato to Be Sold at PDS Outlets for Rs 20 per kg

The State Government decided to provide potato for Rs 20 per kg as the restriction on movement of the tuber from West Bengal continued.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Friday decided to provide potato through PDS outlets for RS20 per kg as the restriction on movement of the tuber from neighbouring West Bengal continued.

Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department Secretary Madhusudan Padhi said Khurda district administration has been asked to supply potato at `20 per kg in Bhubaneswar through 55 PDS outlets. The State has a stock of 30,000 quintals of potato at different cold storages, Padhi said, adding that each family will be provided 2 kgs of potato.

Padhi, however, said there is no restriction on the movement of trucks carrying other vegetables from West Bengal. He said though the the neighbouring State is yet to lift the restriction on potato truck movement, 280 tonnes of potato reached Odisha from West Bengal last night.

Of this, 160 tonnes will cater to the requirement of Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Nayagarh, Puri, Pipili and Nimapara, while 120 tonnes will be provided to Cuttack and neighbouring districts. Padhi said steps are being taken to ensure that no one sells potato at a higher price.

Minister of State for Food Supply and Consumer Welfare  Sanjay Dasburma reviewed the situation at a meeting here. He said Development Commissioner A P Padhi has taken up the matter with officials of the West Bengal Government.

Dasburma said the State is expecting potato supply by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) in the next two days.

Meanwhile, activists of the ruling BJD blocked West Bengal-bound trucks from Andhra Pradesh on the bordering area of Jaleswar in Balasore district.

Sources said more than 200 potato-laden trucks have been detained by the West Bengal Government at Laxmannath inter-State border checkgate.