Storage period of potatoes extended till December 31

Kolkata: The state government has extended the storing period of potatoes in the cold storages for a period of one month till December 31. The decision of the state Agricultural Marketing department comes in the wake of a substantial quantity of potatoes still lying in the cold storages across the state even after November 30 which was earlier the last date of dispatching them from the cold storages.

"Potatoes can be kept in the cold storages till December 15 without paying any additional rent and beyond this period till December 31, an extra rent at the rate of Rs 12 per quintal could be charged from the users of the cold storages.

All potatoes stored in the cold storages will have to be released by December 31," a senior official of the state Agricultural Marketing department said.

A notification in this regard has already been released by the Agri Marketing department.

The department had called a tripartite meeting on Friday involving the cold storage owners and the association of businessmen dealing in potatoes which was chaired by Agri Marketing minister Tapan Dasgupta.

Patit Paban Dey, general secretary of West Bengal Cold Storage Owners' association, said they have to spend around Rs 25 per quintal for storing potatoes during the extended period.

Members of the Pragatishil Alu Byabsayee Samity will sit for a meeting in Bankura on Sunday and may urge the state not to charge anything extra for the storage of potatoes.