Bhubaneswar, Nov. 13: The price of potato and other vegetables are still high, causing concern among common people, especially among those who stick to a vegetarian diet during the Panchuka, or the holy five days of Kartik.

Traders said that the procurement of vegetables had gone up substantially over the past few days. But, it was still not enough to help bring down the price of the vegetables. However, they expressed hope that the situation would change within a few days.

The traders have also formed several committees to study the availability and rate of vegetables in other states, such as Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Odisha, such as Koraput, where these products are sold at cheaper rates. They plan to procure vegetables from these places after comparing prices.

“The traders have gone to the chief minister’s office in Bengal to get permits for supplying potato to us. We hope to be able to get more tuber from Bengal. Besides, we are keeping a watch on the markets in other states,” said Sudhakar panda, secretary of Odisha Traders’ Association.

Panda said seven potato-laden trucks reached Bhubaneswar today, while 30 trucks of tuber came to the city yesterday. Today’s supply, however, was much less than the usual requirement of 25 trucks of potato here. The day before yesterday, 10 trucks of potato came ending the city’s four-day potato drought.

Though the government and traders have been claiming that this supply is enough to counter the artificial disappearance of potato, they have not been able to reduce prices. Potato has been sold at Rs 40 and above per kg in the markets. People who want to buy tuber at lower prices queue up in front of udyan fresh and government regulated shops where it is sold at Rs 22 a kg.