Odisha's potato supply cut off as Bengal enforce export ban

Bhubaneswar, Nov 28: Odisha is bracing for a potential potato crisis as the price of this essential vegetable continues to soar across the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has recently implemented a ban on the sale of potatoes to Odisha, a decision driven by concerns over a looming potato shortage in her own state. She has instructed her officials to halt all potato supplies to Odisha immediately, citing that supplies to other states may exacerbate the situation.

As a result of this directive, the arrival of potato-laden trucks from West Bengal has come to a standstill, with local police actively preventing these vehicles from crossing the state borders. On Wednesday, multiple trucks were intercepted near Belda and Datan for lacking the necessary permits to transport potatoes to Odisha.

In a bid to enforce this ban, the West Bengal administration has erected barricades on National Highway No. 60 near Belda, effectively cutting off the supply route. The situation has left consumers in Odisha worried about the availability and price of potatoes as the new harvest is not expected until January and February.