Potato Wars: Bengal Blocks Odisha Border

A bitter dispute between West Bengal and Odisha over potato trade has escalated, with the West Bengal Police guarding potato trucks at the border to prevent them from entering Odisha. Hundreds of potato-laden wagons are stuck near Brahman Pokhari, 15 km from the Daton toll gate, as the West Bengal government refuses to allow them to cross into Odisha without permission.

The standoff follows a sharp increase in potato prices in Odisha, which have skyrocketed to over ₹50 per kilogram, more than double the usual rate. The price hike came after the West Bengal government seized over 800 wagons of potatoes bound for Odisha at the border check post. Despite a meeting between the two chief ministers in Delhi to resolve the issue, the dispute remains unresolved.

The West Bengal Police are keeping a strict vigil to ensure that not a single bag of potatoes enters Odisha without permission, sparking concerns of a prolonged shortage in the state. The conflict has left potato farmers and traders in both states reeling, with many calling for a swift resolution to the dispute to prevent further price hikes and economic losses .

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