Potato being sold at a market in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 25: After a brief relief, shortage of potatoes has resurfaced in the state after the Bengal government once again imposed its undeclared ban on transportation of tuber, but officials here claim that the situation is normal.

The detention of a large number of Odisha-bound potato-laden trucks on the border by Bengal police yesterday set alarm bells ringing in the state.

However, in last two days around 270 trucks of potato have come to the state through other routes. Of those, 60 had reached Bhubaneswar yesterday and only 20 arrived today. But this may not meet the requirement of the state and push up prices of the commodity.

While the wholesale rate of potato in Bhubaneswar is Rs 22 per kg, traders are selling it at Rs 28-30 per kg in the retail market. At the same time, tuber procured through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (Nafed) is being sold at Rs 20 per kg in the market.

From the end of last month till a week ago there was a prolonged ban on the supply of potatoes by the neighbouring government and it continued despite talks between officials and even between the chief ministers on both sides. It also forced the BJD workers to take retaliatory steps of detaining Bengal-bound trucks carrying essential items.

To tackle the situation arising out of shortage in supply, the state government has instructed collectors to keep tabs on hoarders and conduct searches on the premises of traders stocking potatoes.

Pravakar Rout, deputy director of food and civil supplies department, said that letters had been sent to the district collectors to check hoarding.

“They have been told to conduct police raids as potato has been declared an essential commodity,” said Rout.

He even said that there was enough stock of potatoes in the state and people should not be worried. Besides, fair price shops in six cities in the state have been selling potatoes at Rs 24 per kg.

Sudhakar Panda, secretary of the All Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangha, said that the Bengal government was also deliberating on the issue of supply of potatoes to Odisha.

“Whatever stocks we have in the state will last for a week and then the situation will worsen. We are keeping a watch on the task force meeting in Bengal,” said Panda.

The traders here said that the quality of Bengal potatoes was the reason for its demand in Odisha. Besides, there are many other factors such as higher costs that prevent them from importing potatoes from other sources.

They said that Nafed-procured potatoes from Kanpur sold at a lower price, but it was of poor quality and not preferred by people.