Bid to resolve strike by potato traders inconclusive

A meeting of the West Bengal government with potato traders today remained inconclusive amid threats of a three-day strike from August 19 by a traders forum 'Pashimbanga Pragatisil Aalu Byabsayee Samiti' demanding withdrawal of restriction on movement of tubers to other states.
A delegation of the forum led by its president Santanu Manna and secretary Baren Mondal today met Chief Minister's agriculture advisor Pradip Mazumdar to convey their stand, while demanding the state government to compensate their losses incurred following seizure of potato in the last few days.
"Since production of the crop is much more than its requirement, where is the problem for its export to other states or neighbouring countries?" the traders asked.

"Who will bear the losses incurred following seizure of potatoes? As the trucks were brought back even from the borders, it involved huge transport costs. A portion of the consignment also got damaged," the traders said.
The discussion, however, remained inconclusive and would again continue on August 18.
The state government had yesterday relaxed the ban on export of potato to Odisha and Jharkhand, even as seizure of potato-laden trucks bound for other states and neighbouring countries continued for the fifth day today.

At a meeting of the task force on price hike, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday directed to release 5,000 tonnes of potato per day to Odisha and 500 tonnes of potato per day to Jharkhand from August 17 to August 23 responding to special request from the governments of those states, state Agriculture Minister Purnendu Bose had said.

The clampdown on potato-laden trucks for other states and neighbouring countries began here following a directive from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state administration also earmarked a ceiling for potato stock in both wholesale and retail markets to prevent its hoarding.
Meanwhile, the state administration has made arrangements for sale of the seized tubers in local markets at government regulated price.