Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar, December 1: Potato traders in West Bengal have threatened to go on strike starting Tuesday unless the state government lifts its restrictions on selling potatoes to other states.
The West Bengal government recently re-imposed curbs on the export of potatoes to neighboring states in an effort to control local market prices. Currently, potatoes are being sold at ₹35-40 per kg in the state's retail markets.
Following this decision, police have increased surveillance at inter-state borders to prevent the transportation of potatoes outside the state, resulting in several trucks being delayed at border crossings.
Lalu Mukherjee, secretary of the Progressive Potato Traders' Association, said, "If the government does not lift the restrictions, we will go on strike from Tuesday." He criticized the government's move, calling it disruptive to business and stating that it causes significant financial losses by preventing traders from fulfilling their commitments.
Traders and cold storage associations have accused the state government of failing to control local prices, blaming intermediaries for profiteering. One trader raised concerns, asking, "The wholesale price of potatoes in Kolkata is ₹27 per kg, so why is the retail price ₹35-40?"
Neighboring states like Odisha and Jharkhand rely heavily on West Bengal for their potato supply. Following the restrictions, potato prices in these states have also surged.
Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra, on Saturday alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was politicizing the issue of potato supply.
He added, "West Bengal also depends on other states for goods like fish. If Odisha wanted, we could stop goods vehicles at our border. But we are not going to do that." He assured that arrangements had been made to supply sufficient potatoes to Odisha's consumers, with potatoes arriving from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
