Members of task forces mandated to check the prices of essential commodities sprang into action across Bengal on Wednesday, visiting markets and comparing wholesale and retail prices which had skyrocketed in the past two weeks.

The inspections by the task forces, which comprise representatives of police, enforcement branch and the local administration, at the markets were initiated following a meeting chaired by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday. She set a 10-day deadline for the task forces to stabilise the prices of essential commodities.

During the meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, Mamata expressed her dissatisfaction over the rising prices of potatoes, a staple vegetable in the kitchens of common people in the state.

"We are inspecting current stocks and rates at the wholesalers' points and comparing them with the retail traders. On the first day, we noted any discrepancies between the rates of wholesalers and retailers. We are mainly monitoring whether traders are hoarding essential commodities, especially vegetables, with a special focus on potatoes," said a senior task force member in Birbhum district. He participated in raids on at least four markets in Bolpur and Santiniketan.

The task forces' actions continued for hours in markets in several districts like Hooghly, Jhargram, Bankura, East Burdwan and West Burdwan. Similar raids and inspections were conducted in markets in north Bengal as well.

Kamal Dey, a state agricultural task force committee member at Koley Market in Calcutta, said there was no option for vegetable sellers to hoard produce. "Only potatoes, onions and carrots can be hoarded for a few days. We inspected the stock of those vegetables at Koley Market."

The chief minister directed the agriculture department officials to ensure the release of six lakh tonnes of potatoes from cold storage every month to curb the increasing price of potatoes.

During the raids, a few retailers complained that they were forced to sell vegetables at high prices because of poor quality. "I bought 50kg of cucumber and discovered that at least 30 per cent of it is non-sellable. That is why I have to sell those for ₹80 a kg though I bought it ₹50 a kg," said Badal Das, a vegetable seller in Jhargram.