Patiala, October 11 — To curb bogus paddy procurement and the illegal inflow of grain from neighboring states during the ongoing kharif procurement season, the Patiala district administration has deployed flying squads and set up multiple checkposts across key entry points.
Seven enforcement teams — comprising nearly 200 officers from the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Mandi Board, and Punjab Police — have begun inspecting trucks entering the state to verify bills, bilties, and related documents. The initiative aims to prevent the recycling of paddy and rice and to ensure that procurement benefits reach only local farmers.
District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Dr. Preeti Yadav said the measures are meant to safeguard the interests of genuine farmers while maintaining transparency in procurement. “The action has been taken to ensure that local farmers face no inconvenience during the current kharif procurement season 2024–25,” she said.
Dr. Yadav noted that all procurement agencies in the district are purchasing paddy at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,369 per quintal. “However, some unscrupulous elements attempt to bring paddy or rice from other states at cheaper rates to sell it in Punjab mandis,” she added.
Given that Patiala shares long borders with Haryana’s Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal districts, the district has been a known hotspot for illegal grain movement. In the past, individuals were caught transporting paddy purchased at lower prices from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Punjab mandis — primarily in Patiala — to sell it to state procurement agencies for profit.
“To curb the unauthorised inflow of such grain and prevent illegal trade, flying squads have been formed under the supervision of SDMs. These teams, comprising officials from multiple departments and the police, are also conducting surprise checks in mandis,” said Dr. Yadav.
District Food and Supplies Controller Dr. Ravinder Kaur confirmed that police checkposts have been established along interstate borders to monitor all incoming vehicles. “At every market committee level, checks are being carried out to stop the unauthorized entry of paddy and rice from outside Punjab,” she mentioned.
The checkpoints have been set up at Sanjarpur Mor Shambhu Barrier, Sarala Head (Ghanaur–Ambala Road), Rohar Jagir (Julka–Pehowa Road), T-Point (Balbera–Cheeka Road), Dharmedi (Nawan Gaon–Cheeka Road), Ghaggar Bridge (Arnetu Badshahpur–Kaithal Road), and Dhabi Gujjran (Patran–Narwana Road).
