Tonnes of rotten potatoes have found their place in the Allahabad market and it has takers too.
Daily 20 tonnes to 30 tonnes of rotten and worm-infested potatoes are being dumped in the Mundera and Khuldabad Mandis in Allahabad district.
These potatoes have rotten due to excessive heat and erratic power supply condition. The cold storages where potatoes were stored were not getting regular power supply due to which it became worm-infested and started stinking. Following this problem the farmers in Allahabad and neighbouring district decided to sell their stock at a throw away prices at Mundera and Khuldabad Mandis to recover losses.
The wholesale dealers in both the Mandis normally cut the rotten part of potatoes and sell them at one-fourth the normal price to the buyers.
"Most of the potatoes were being purchased by 'chat' vendors, eatery shop owners and sometimes owners of some reputed restaurants and hotels.
They were paying just Rs 3 to 4 per kg of potato against the normal price of Rs 8 to 9 per kg," said UP Congress Committee (OBC Cell) state general secretary and Allahabad Goods Transport and Motor Operators' Association president Anil Kushwaha.
He said both the Mundera and Khuldabad markets are stinking with rotten potatoes. At an average 15 tonnes to 20 tonnes of these potatoes was being sold from both places daily. But the Nagar Nigam and district health department was simply sleeping over the fact.
{{/usCountry}}He said both the Mundera and Khuldabad markets are stinking with rotten potatoes. At an average 15 tonnes to 20 tonnes of these potatoes was being sold from both places daily. But the Nagar Nigam and district health department was simply sleeping over the fact.
{{/usCountry}}"Incidentally the NN's Khuldabad ward office is situated just behind the Khuldabad Mandi and the food inspector can easily inspect the market. But instead of taking any action they are simply allowing the sale of rotten potatoes by ignoring its adverse effects on health," he added.
Ex HoD of Department of Medicine MLN Medical College senior physician Dr DK Nigam said consumption of rotten potato could lead to serious abdominal distention.
A person may suffer from vomiting, gastroenteritis and even recurring diarrhoea.
There can also be serious abdominal infection due to degeneration of the basic structure of potato. Being a very common vegetable certain action need to be taken to check the sale of rotten stock, he said.