Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, on Thursday blamed the West Bengal government for the ongoing potato crisis in the state.
Patra accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of creating an artificial shortage to undermine the reputation of BJP govenrment in Odisha.
Patra alleged that the shortage was deliberately engineered to harm the state's image.
“An artificial scarcity was created to discredit the Odisha government. Recently, the West Bengal Chief Minister stopped the supply of potatoes to Odisha, only to resume shipments later,” he said.
Amid growing criticism over his handling of the crisis, Patra remarked, “I fail to understand why they (West Bengal) are doing this. It’s clear that prices will rise when there is less supply in the market.”
Patra, however, sought to reassure the public, saying, “For now, there is enough potato stock in Odisha, and prices will eventually stabilize on their own.”
The Minister said that Odisha would be able to source potatoes from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab if West Bengal stops shipments again.
Odisha has been grappling with a severe potato shortage after West Bengal halted potato exports to the state on November 28, following a surge in local prices to Rs 35-40 per kg.
