Potato is now essential commodity in West Bengal

West Bengal government Tuesday included potato under the essential commodities category to prevent its hoarding and arrest its rising prices, state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said.

The government issued a notification under the West Bengal Prevention of Hoarding of Essential Food Stuffs Order, 2009, declaring potato cannot be stocked beyond a permissible limit.

The order also enables government representatives to check godowns for excess stock of the tuberous crop.

'Under this order, essential commodities potato, edible oil, mustard and dal (pulses) cannot be hoarded,' Dasgupta told reporters at the state secretariat.

On Wednesday state police commissioner will meet wholesalers and retailers in Kolkata to instruct them on how much potato they can store.