Potato Supply Controversy Between Bengal and Jharkhand Raises Concerns in Parliament; BJP MP Calls for Central Action

New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) The ongoing inter-state conflict regarding potato supply between West Bengal and Jharkhand escalated in Parliament on Tuesday. Hazaribagh BJP MP Manish Jaiswal highlighted the issue in the Lok Sabha, appealing for intervention from the Union government.

Jaiswal pointed out that West Bengal's blockade on potato shipments to Jharkhand has severely affected the staple diet of many, leading to a notable increase in the vegetable's prices.

He condemned the action, labeling it a breach of inter-state trade regulations and a grave issue impacting the underprivileged.

The West Bengal government has enforced a ban on supplying potatoes to other states. This decision has significantly impacted the markets in Jharkhand, which relies on West Bengal for nearly 60 percent of its potato supply throughout the year.

The resulting shortage has driven up the prices of popular varieties like Jyoti and Chandramukhi to Rs 35-42 per kg in retail markets, reflecting an increase of Rs 5-10 in just a week in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari to engage with West Bengal's Chief Secretary Manoj Pant regarding the matter. Although they communicated, it yielded no resolution, and the ban remains in effect.

The issue was also raised in the Bengal Assembly on Monday, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defended the restrictions. She claimed that unregulated shipments of potatoes and onions were inflating prices within the state.

CM Banerjee underscored the necessity of ensuring a sufficient supply for Bengal's residents, declaring, “We are the second-largest potato producer in the country, yet profiteering is compelling our people to pay inflated prices. This will not be permitted. Before dispatching potatoes and onions to other states, Bengal must be prioritized.”

As tensions escalate, the West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders' Association has announced an indefinite strike starting Tuesday after unsuccessful negotiations with Agricultural Marketing Department Minister Becharam Manna. The traders are seeking clarity on when the state government will lift the restrictions.

If the strike persists, there are concerns that the price of this essential vegetable in West Bengal may skyrocket further in the coming days.

This marks the second instance in just over three months that the potato traders in the state, under the aegis of the Progressive Potato Traders’ Association, have initiated a strike.

The prior strike occurred in August. An association representative noted that approximately 6.5 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes are currently stored in cold storage facilities in the state, significantly exceeding the internal requirement of 3 lakh metric tonnes for December.

He asserted that under these circumstances, the restriction on shipments to other states is unwarranted.