The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stepped in to find a solution to the potato supply crisis in Odisha by asking West Bengal government to ease restrictions imposed on transportation of this essential food item.
Responding to a complaint filed by activist Akhand, the commission has ordered the West Bengal government to take action within two months.
"The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within 8 weeks and to inform the complainant of the action taken in the matter", said the missive sent to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal.
Odisha imports more than 80 per cent of its annual 900,000 tonne potato requirements from neighbouring West Bengal, the second largest producer of this tuber variety after Uttar Pradesh. The potato supplies have been irregular since August this year, as the West Bengal government imposed undeclared restrictions on its sale outside that state in order to maintain local price.
The supply squeeze has flared up the vegetable prices, causing worries for the common man and the government. Though transportation has resumed from September onwards, the supplies remain less than the orders placed by the state traders with their West Bengal counterparts.
Odisha produces only around 201,000 tonne potato every year leaving a shortfall of 711,854 tonnes which is met through imports from other states, primarily West Bengal.
In his petition, the activist had stated that potato production in West Bengal was nearly 95 lakh tonnes this year while the storage capacity there is maximum of 69 lakh tonnes at 430 cold stores. The rest can be supplied to other states without affecting the local consumption and price.
"Considering the above, there should be no restrictions in the transport of this essential food item. However, the West Bengal government has deliberately put curbs on potato supply to Odisha", Akhand had pointed out in his petition.
The potato supply problem has been surfacing intermittently since last year when the West Bengal government banned export of the vegetable in order to maintain local price there at Rs 13 a kg, as per the promises made by the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC). Though the ban was later lifted officially, informal restrictions continued, causing supply problems in Odisha time and again. Last month, the TMC government agreed to ease curbs after potato traders there protested by not releasing the vegetable variety to retail market during an indefinite strike announced on September 8, but the situation is yet to normalise.
