Gourela–Pendra–Marwahi, January 24, 2026:
Acting on the directions of Collector Ms. Leena Kamlesh Mandavi, the district administration has intensified action against the illegal purchase, sale, transportation, and storage of paddy during the ongoing procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The drive aims to ensure that paddy procurement is carried out strictly from genuine and eligible farmers, based on their actual cultivated area, in line with state government policy.
To curb irregularities, the district has deployed three flying squads at the district level and four at the tehsil level. In addition, district-level officers have been appointed as nodal officers at all 20 paddy procurement centres across the district. These teams are maintaining strict surveillance to prevent illegal transportation and storage of paddy and to ensure that no illegally sourced paddy is sold at procurement centres. The objective is to effectively stop the involvement of middlemen, traders, and illegal sellers in the procurement process.
District Food Officer Ms. Shweta Agrawal informed that during the current Kharif season, joint teams comprising officials and staff from the Agriculture Produce Market Committee, Revenue Department, Food Department, and other concerned departments have seized a total of 6,345.10 quintals of paddy worth ₹1.96 crore. Along with the seized paddy, 21 vehicles involved in illegal transportation have also been confiscated and placed at police outposts.
She added that continuous action is being taken to prevent illegal movement of paddy within the district. Traders found illegally storing paddy are being inspected, and prompt action is being initiated to seize such stock. The district administration has reiterated that enforcement will continue rigorously to ensure transparency and fairness in the paddy procurement process.
