Odisha Govt to Rail Potatoes from UP Amidst Crisis

Bhubaneswar: The Mohan Majhi government in Odisha is taking drastic measures to address the escalating potato crisis in the state. With supplies from West Bengal severely curtailed due to a mid-July ban, Odisha is facing a shortage of the essential tuber, leading to soaring prices.

To circumvent the supply disruption, the state government is exploring the option of transporting potatoes from Uttar Pradesh by train. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced on Sunday that efforts are underway to bring two trainloads of potatoes from the northern state, with discussions ongoing with the Railway Ministry.

Despite appeals from Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his predecessor Naveen Patnaik to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lift the ban, the neighbouring state has remained unyielding. This has forced Odisha to seek alternative sources for the essential commodity.

While the state has previously imported potatoes from Uttar Pradesh, its reliance on West Bengal has grown over the years due to shorter transportation distances and reduced wastage. However, traders in Odisha have expressed concerns about the acceptability of the Uttar Pradesh potato variety among consumers.