The Odisha government today decided to provide potato to people through PDS outlets for Rs 20 per kg in view of restriction on movement of the tuber from neighbouring West Bengal.
"We have about 30,000 quintal of potato at different cold storages in the state. The government has decided to supply potato to people at the rate of Rs 20 per kg through 55 PDS outlets from today," Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department Secretary Madhusudan Padhi said.
Padhi, however, said there was no restriction on the movement of trucks carrying other vegetables from West Bengal. He said though the neighbouring state was yet to lift the restriction on the potato truck movement, 10 lorries could carry potatoes to Bhubaneswar last night.
The 10 trucks carried 160 tons of potatoes to the state capital last night, Padhi said adding that steps are being taken to ensure that no one sells potato at higher rate.
Food supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma said the Odisha government was not aware about the reason behind the West Bengal government's restrictions on the potato transportation.
He said Odisha's Development Commissioner A P Padhi has already taken up the matter with his West Bengal counterparts.
The minister said the state was expecting potato supply by Nafed (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) in next two days.
Meanwhile, activists of the ruling BJD blocked West Bengal-bound trucks from Andhra Pradesh in the bordering area of Jaleswar in Balasore district.
Sources said above 200 potato-laden trucks have been detained by the West Bengal government at Laxmannath inter state border check gate.
