Ranchi, December 1 (IANS). The government of West Bengal has banned the supply of potatoes to other states. Its biggest impact has been on the markets of Jharkhand. Here the prices of potatoes have increased by five to ten rupees. On the request of business organizations, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday directed the state government officials to take necessary steps to resolve the impasse over the arrival of potatoes.
The West Bengal government has imposed this ban five days ago. After this, vehicles carrying potatoes from Bengal to Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and other states were stopped at the check post. More than 200 trucks laden with potatoes were stopped in the last five days at Dibudih check post located on the Bengal border in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Many trucks are still standing at the border, while potatoes loaded on many trucks have been sent back to cold storage or to wholesalers in West Bengal. It is reported that to control the prices of potatoes in West Bengal, the government there has issued instructions on November 27 to ban the supply from other states.
Here, on the instructions of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, state Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari spoke to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on phone on this matter on Sunday. The Information and Public Relations Department of the Jharkhand Government has said that the Chief Secretary of West Bengal has assured that soon a committee will be formed and a decision will be taken on the issue related to the supply of potatoes. Let us tell you that there is large scale buying and selling of vegetable crops between the states of Jharkhand and Bengal.
The potato crop in Jharkhand is not ready at present. From July to December, potatoes arrive on a large scale from Bengal in the markets here. Tomatoes, peas and many types of green vegetables are also sent on a large scale from Jharkhand to other states including Bengal.
–IANS
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