Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 20: Amid a potato price surge and related consumer unrest in Odisha, a joint team from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department conducted raids on vegetable vendors in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. During the operation, notices were issued to three vendors at the Unit 1 daily market for failing to properly maintain and declare their stock.
Consumers have been vocal about the high prices of potatoes and onions, with potatoes selling at Rs 40 and onions at Rs 50 across various locations in the capital. “The retail price of potatoes should be around Rs 29, but they are currently being sold at Rs 40. Onions are priced at Rs 50, while the wholesale price is Rs 42. We are monitoring the situation to prevent black marketing and hoarding,” a Food Supplies official stated.
The situation has left consumers struggling to afford onions, especially after the price of potatoes dropped from Rs 60 to Rs 40. The rise in onion prices, from Rs 30 to Rs 50, has exacerbated the problem. Vegetable traders have been reluctant to discuss the price hikes, but sources suggest a supply shortage from other states due to the monsoon season.
In response to the crisis, the Odisha government has decided to import potatoes from Uttar Pradesh via train to address local demand.
