To keep Rajasthan mustard out, nine district borders sealed

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29

With mustard crop finding its way to grain markets in the state from Rajasthan, the Haryana Government has told DCs of Bhiwani, Sirsa, Charkhi Dadri, Palwal, Nuh, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Fatehabad and Hisar to restrict movement of the crop by invoking Section 144 CrPC.

In letters to the DCs of these districts, which share their boundaries with Rajasthan, Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB) chief administrator J Ganesan said ever since mustard procurement began on April 15, 93,759 farmers had already brought 2.59 lakh MT stock in the state grain markets.

Ganesan said the total procurement of mustard in Haryana was expected to be 8 lakh MT this year, of which 25 per cent was to be procured for the NAFED, while the rest of the stock would be purchased by state agencies.

“It has come to the notice that there is possibility of movement of mustard from the adjoining states into Haryana. This would defeat the purpose of staggered procurement and hence endanger public health and safety and also lead to profiteering by unscrupulous elements,” he said in his letter.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Department Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC had already been promulgated in these districts and the police had been asked to increase vigil.