660 quintals of illegally stocked wheat seized

The Chief Minister’s Flying Squad has launched action against illegal wheat hoarding in Sirsa district. On Friday, the team raided a private firm and seized 660 quintals of illegally stocked wheat. A fine of Rs 96,223 was imposed on the firm for not paying market fee and violating storage norms.

The squad, along with officials from the market committee and other departments, also carried out surprise inspections at several mills, factories and warehouses in the city’s industrial area. Officials say the squad is now targeting warehouses in both urban and rural areas where more such illegal storage is suspected. Sources estimate that over 60,000 quintals of wheat may currently be hoarded illegally in Sirsa alone.

Traders are reportedly buying directly from farmers to avoid paying the 4 per cent government fee (2 per cent market fee and 2 per cent HRDF (Haryana Rural Development Fund).

Earlier, the Haryana Marketing Board had also raided several warehouses in Kalanwali and found thousands of quintals of hoarded wheat.