RANCHI: Jharkhand govt has begun negotiations with West Bengal to resolve the potato crisis which is affecting people in Jharkhand since the last few days, reports ASRP Mukesh.
Following Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's intervention, state chief secretary Alka Tiwari on Sunday spoke to her Bengal counterpart on the issue.
A communique from Jharkhand govt said Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant has assured Tiwari that a committee would be set up soon to address the issue.
Since Wednesday, Bengal stopped trucks carrying potatoes bound for other states, including Jharkhand, leading to a dip in its availability and a steep price hike in both wholesale and retail markets here. It prompted potato traders to appeal to the state govt for intervention.
Talking to TOI over phone, Bibhas Kumar Dey, advisor to the West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders' Association (WBPPTA), said the restriction over interstate sale of potatoes has also caused them severe losses.
Dey said WBPPTA as well as cold storage owners in Bengal, too, have demanded that Bengal govt should remove the restrictions.
ASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He co...
Read MoreASRP Mukesh holds over 15 years of journalistic experience. He covers government, politics, human interest stories from Jharkhand.
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