Expressing concern over rising prices of essential commodities, the Centre on Thursday blamed some states for poor management that has resulted in shortage of some of these items.

Citing an example of the poor management, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha, "...in one state I found, because of overgrowth of potato production, they could not buy it, there were not adequate storing facility, it was simply dumped on the street."

Intervening on a discussion on price rise of essential items, Mukherjee said when prices of potatoes increase, when prices of vegetables increase, blame cannot be squarely put on Union Finance Minister or Union Agriculture Minister. "Surely, it is bad management (of some states)," he said.

He said, "We are deeply concerned. When the prices go high, when the people suffer, when essential commodities are not available, definitely people will not feel happy, they will feel angry, they will feel frustrated, that will get reflected in the voices of representatives of the people."

The Finance Minister's remarks assume importance as food inflation has crossed 15 per cent to stand at 15.58 during the second week of this month. Prices of potatoes, in fact, more than doubled in one year.

The Finance Minister sought states' cooperation to deal with the situation, there is still a huge gap between what farmers get and prices in the market. "If we do it collectively together we will be able to deliver good," he said.