Two nakas laid on Haryana-UP border to curb paddy, PDS rice influx from other states in Karnal mandis

In a major step to curb illegal influx of paddy and public distribution system (PDS) rice from the neighbouring states, the Karnal district administration has set up two nakas at Manglora and Shergarh Tapu villages along the Haryana–Uttar Pradesh border. This step has been taken after reports surfaced that paddy and PDS rice from UP, Bihar and other states is being quietly brought into Karnal’s grain markets and rice mills.

As per sources, the arrival of PDS rice and paddy keeps the district administration on its toes every year. The PDS rice and paddy from other states recovered from rice mills in the previous years, was purchased at lower prices and was used to adjust against proxy procurement with the help of fake gate passes.

Last year too, several incidents involving fake gate passes were reported. The authorities suspect that rice meant for the PDS could be passed off as custom-milled rice (CMR) supplied to the state.

Sources said traders have long exploited price gaps and loopholes to adjust cheaper paddy or rice and sell it at the minimum support price (MSP).

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Uttam Singh has tasked Karnal SDM Anubhav Mehta with direct supervision of these nakas. Duty magistrates, backed by police teams, have been deployed to maintain a 24-hour vigil at these checkpoints.

Besides, the SDMs of Indri, Gharaunda, Assandh and Nilokheri have also been directed to keep a strict watch on grain markets and rice mills falling under their jurisdiction to check the arrival of such paddy and the PDS rice from other states. The DC further instructed market committee secretaries not to allow paddy without valid gate passes or consignments originating from outside Haryana in mandis.

“Duty magistrates with police personnel have been deployed round the clock to check the arrival of paddy from UP, Bihar and other states. Any officer or employee found negligent will face strict action,” warned DC.

“CCTV cameras are being installed to strengthen the vigil,” he added.

Insiders claim that some traders, who are required to return 67 per cent rice per 100 kg of paddy to the government under the CMR, have been substituting low-quality paddy and the PDS rice sourced from outside Haryana — effectively cheating both the system and the state exchequer. They allege that paddy bought at lower prices is sent to the government at the MSP of Rs 2,389 per quintal after processing as rice against the paddy allotted to them, with the help of bogus registrations on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal. Using fake farmer IDs and manipulating per-acre yield data, these traders make profits of Rs 400–Rs 600 per quintal, even after covering transportation costs.

The sources further revealed that this adjustment is made with the help of an organised nexus between traders and officials of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) and various procurement agencies. Several inquiries from previous years are still pending, and no major convictions have been made so far — raising questions about the depth of collusion and accountability in the procurement system.