BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: The state government on Wednesday asked district collectors to arrest hoarders in an effort to arrest the price rise of potatoes in the market. The price of the vegetable has jumped from Rs 10 per kg last month to Rs 18 per kg.Collectors have also been advised to crack down on unscrupulous traders. "They have also been asked to keep a close watch on the arrival of potatoes in the market and ensure the availability of the same to consumers," food supplies and consumer welfare secretary V V Yadav said in a letter to the collectors.The letter said, "If required, action may be taken against the hoarders and unscrupulous traders under the Provision of Essential Commodities Act, 1955." The price of potato has shot through the roof in the last few days. "It is ascertained that there is less production of potato this year in the producing states like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which has led to the rise in price in our state. Taking advantage of such a situation, some traders may resort to hoarding and creation of artificial scarcity in the market," the letter read.The collectors of border districts were requested to ensure that flow of potato from the producing states into Odisha is not disrupted. "Potato is the most essential vegetable in the kitchen and in summer we use more of it. But due to high prices, we have had to cut its consumption," said Hemangini Das, a homemaker living in the capital city.The civil supply department on Wednesday conducted raids at several vegetable mandis of Cuttack, including the one at Chhatra Bazar , following Yadav's letter. "We have conducted raid on 14 vegetable godowns and found no extra stock there," said district civil supply officer Amar Mohapatra. Odisha produces around three lakh metric tonnes of potato every year against the annual requirement of around 12 lakh metric tonnes and depends on West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to meet the need.

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