The North News
Chandigarh, October 13
The Punjab government has intensified its crackdown on illegal inter-state paddy transportation, registering a First Information Report(FIR) at Kotkapura police station in Faridkot district, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Monday. The FIR has been filed on the complaint of a local Punjab State Co-op Supply and Marketing Federation (MARKFED) branch manager under sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The case involves the owner of two rice mills in Hari Nau village and five others from Rajasthan. The Police have recovered four tractor-trailers carrying illegal paddy registered in Rajasthan.
Khudian, along with Harchand Singh Barsat, Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, held a high-level meeting with District Mandi Officers and Chief Agriculture Officers, issuing strict orders to block the entry of out-of-state paddy into Punjab’s grain markets. He said the state maintains a “zero tolerance” policy on illegal paddy sales to protect Punjab’s agricultural market and the interests of local farmers.
During a review of procurement operations, the minister directed market committee secretaries and mandi officers to ensure paddy moisture levels are checked using PAU-calibrated meters before dispatch to shellers. The move aims to maintain grain quality and ensure fair pricing for farmers. The Administrative Secretary Agriculture Basant Garg urged officials to step up awareness campaigns against stubble burning, promoting in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy straw.
Punjab Mandi Board Secretary Ramvir said that special nakas have been set up across the state to prevent unauthorised paddy transport, ensuring smooth operations for farmers during the procurement season.
