PATIALA: The district officials and police seized illegal paddy from the fourth truck trying to enter the state in two weeks of this procurement season.
The district mandi board officials claim that paddy was seized on October 6 and12, rice on October 5 and 6, and 1,800 quintals of both has been the total haul this year, all brought from Uttar Pradesh. Last year, 94 trucks were impounded at this interstate border and 49 operators booked. The confiscated paddy was 3,000 metric tonnes. Trucks carrying loads of paddy from UP and Bihar are on way to Punjab, trying to get past the checkpoints at Shambu, Biwipur, Ramnagar, Bhaghora, Kheda Gajju, Balbehra, Badshahpur and Dhabbi Gujjran in Patiala district. Market committee and police maintain a joint vigil to check their entry.
District mandi officer Ajaypal said, “The paddy is bought cheaper in other states and then shipped to Punjab for a higher price. This causes a big revenue loss to the state exchequer and an indirect loss to Punjab’s farmers. Most trucks we seized were from UP.” Patiala district food supply officer Gurpreet Singh Kang said, “This time we have an even tighter security on the borders along with assistance from the vigilance bureau. The influx of illegal paddy has reduced from last year.”
