Don't sell potatoes more than Rs 32/kg: Odisha minister tells traders amid price rise

At a time when the consumers in Odisha are grappling with potato price rise, the State government has asked traders not to sell the kitchen essential at more than Rs 32 per kg.

Amid rising prices, Food & Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra visited several potato godowns in Bhubaneswar to review the situation on Friday.

After taking stock of the situation, Patra said, “I along with my officers raided several godowns in Bhubaneswar. After inquiring, I found that they are buying potatoes at Rs 27 per kg.”

“When asked at what price potato should be sold in the retail market, they said it should not be priced more than Rs 32 per kg. So I request all traders to sell the essential kitchen commodity at Rs 32 per kg or else necessary action will be taken against them,” Patra added.

Moreover, Patra also warned hoarders and black marketers to refrain from troubling the common people unnecessarily.  

Terming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to stop potato export to other states unfortunate, Patra said we are in talks with the Uttar Pradesh government. If the need arises, we will give the necessary permission to procure tuber from them.

Meanwhile, an important meeting was convened today (July 26) at 3 pm to chalk out plans to curb the price rise.

Notably, the retail price of potatoes has reached Rs 45-50 per kg in Odisha causing huge inconvenience to the common man.