Potato traders threaten strike from Tuesday if West Bengal doesn't allow selling to other states
Kolkata (PTI): Potato traders of West Bengal threatened to go on strike on Tuesday if the state government does not lift restrictions on selling to other states.
West Bengal recently re-imposed curbs on selling potatoes to neighbouring states in an effort to control the prices in the local markets. Potatoes are retailing at Rs 35-40 per kg in the local markets.
Following the decision of the state government, police have intensified surveillance at inter-state borders to prevent the transportation of potatoes out of the state. This has led to several trucks being stranded at border crossings.
"We will go on strike from Tuesday if the government does not lift the restrictions," Progressive Potato Traders' Association secretary Lalu Mukherjee told PTI.
He criticised the government's decision, stating, "Such abrupt measures disrupt our business and cause huge losses as we fail to fulfil commitments."
Traders and cold storage associations blamed the state government for failing to control prices in the local markets, attributing it to profiteering by intermediaries.
"Despite the wholesale price of potatoes in Kolkata being Rs 27 per kg, how is it retailing at Rs 35-40?" a trader questioned.
Neighbouring states such as Odisha and Jharkhand rely heavily on West Bengal for their potato supply. After the restrictions were imposed, prices in these states have also gone up.
Odisha's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Saturday alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was playing politics over the supply of potatoes.
"West Bengal also depends on other states for fish and other items. If desired, Odisha can also stop the goods vehicles at its border. But, we are not going to do so," he said.
"We have made arrangements for the supply of adequate potatoes to consumers in the state. Potatoes have started arriving in the state from Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the tuber can also be brought from Punjab," he added.
In Jharkhand, the price of potato has shot up by Rs 5 per kg, an official said.
Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to hold talks with the West Bengal government to deal with the situation, as people of the state are suffering because of rising potato prices.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Agricultural Marketing Board extended the storage period for potatoes in cold storage by one month, till the end of the year.
According to cold storage officials, about 6.5 lakh ton of potatoes remain unsold in their stock out of the total 63.5 lakh ton loaded this year.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
