The spiralling prices of potato and its disappearance from the markets in West Bengal cost minister Arup Roy his job Wednesday after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took over the charge of agricultural marketing department. Roy,however,will remain in her cabinet without a portfolio. After making a trip to Kolkatas vegetable markets in the morning,the Chief Minister summoned Roy and informed him of her decision. Speaking to mediapersons,Mamata narrated how she conveyed her decision to the minister. Arup,I am taking over your department. You understand how difficult the situation has become. But you will remain in the cabinet, Mamata said. While warning of stern action against those who indulged in hoarding of the kitchen staple,she also unveiled measures to check the prices of potato,which have started selling at Rs 20-22 per kilo. If necessary,all the cold storages in the state will be emptied to keep the prices in check. Trucks laden with potatoes will be sent to markets with police escort, she said. The chief minister said government has a list of hoarders who are responsible for this artificial crisis. Some of them have fled to places such Ghatsila (Jharkhand) and Jalandhar (Punjab). But we are after them, she added. Assuring that the situation would normalise within two days,she warned that the licenses of dishonest traders would be cancelled. She had last week fixed the ceiling price of the tuber at Rs 11 per kg in the wholesale market and Rs 13 per kg in retail. However,it proved counter-productive as potato started disappearing from the markets. Mamata said that she has turned down requests from the chief ministers of Orissa and Assam seeking relaxation in ban on potato export from the state. She also said that the state government would sell the tuber from the 36 markets of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) as well as outlets of Mother Dairy and the state horticulture department. The Chief Minister said the city police commissioner,the DMs,SPs,SDOs and BDOs have been asked to keep a constant watch on the situation. EB sleuths seize 7 truckload potato,TMC workers sell it The Enforcement Branch (EB) officials,acting on a tip off,seized seven trucks loaded with potatoes at Asansol Wednesday. However,instead of being taken to the authorities,Trinamool Congress party workers took trucks to the local party office and sold the tuber at government fixed rates. Sources said,seven trucks were intercepted at Chowringhee checkpost in the morning by EB officials. The trucks contained sacks of potatoes,which were on way to Jharkhand. Each of the trucks contained 400-500 kg of potatoes. They were being brought in from Hooghly and Burdwan, said an EB official,adding that they had left the trucks at Kulti police station in Asansol. The trucks were,however,taken to TMC party office of Lachipur area under Ward 7 and potatoes were sold. Officials of Kulti PS as well as Vineet Goyal,commissioner of police,Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate refused to comment on the issue Local TMC leader,Shibdas Ray,however,said they had adhered to the party leaderships instructions. We have sold the potatoes to common people at the rate of Rs 13 per kg. So what is the harm in it?.
