Minister Patra promises relief from potato shortage as fresh stocks arrive

Bhubaneswar, Aug 8: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra today assured that the state’s potato shortage will be resolved in the coming days with new shipments expected from neighboring West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Patra stated, "We are anticipating sufficient potato supplies from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh shortly, which will alleviate the current shortage in Odisha. This influx should also lead to a reduction in potato prices." He also mentioned that traders have been instructed to prepare for these new deliveries and to ensure that prices remain stable.

In a related development, five trucks carrying potatoes arrived at the Aiginia storage facility on Thursday, offering some relief to consumers. Previously, trucks had faced delays due to temporary checkpoints set up by West Bengal police in Belda, located 60 km from Sonakania Gate. However, these issues appear to have been resolved with the arrival of fresh supplies.

Although the current quantity of potatoes is still limited, the arrival of these stocks has renewed optimism among traders, who are awaiting further shipments from Uttar Pradesh. The last batch of potatoes from UP arrived four days ago.