No lifting of ban on export of potato from state: West Bengal government

KOLKATA: Even as the situation arising out of scarcity of potato in retail markets eased with the West Bengal government stepping into the supply of commodity, authorities today said the ban on export of the tuber to other states would continue.

"A permission has to be taken (by the traders from state government authorities) before transporting potato to other states," Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra told reporters after a meeting of the task force which was formed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to monitor prices of essential commodities.

"There is no difficulty. We are in contact with our counterparts in other states," he said.

"Nothing alarming", Mitra quipped when his attention was drawn towards rise in prices of fish, eggs and onions after protesters in Odisha blocked shipments these commodities from crossing into Bengal on Saturday last in reaction to the state government's decision to ban potato shipments to other states.