Vigil up to curb wheat inflow in Bathinda from other states

The administration has set up nine check posts at key entry points to the district to prevent unauthorised movement of wheat produce from the neighbouring states during the rabi procurement season 2026-27.

Sources said although the MSP is fixed at Rs 2,585 per quintal and an additional bonus of Rs 150 has been announced in Rajasthan, taking the effective rate to Rs 2,735, prices in parts of the state, including Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts, currently hover around Rs 2,200 per quintal. Transportation and handling charges for moving produce from Rajasthan to Punjab raise the cost to around Rs 2,525 per quintal, which is still slightly less than the MSP. This encourages traders to bring wheat to Punjab mandis.

As procurement is capped in Rajasthan, surplus wheat often finds its way into Punjab. Bathinda DC Rajesh Dhiman said the move to set up check posts aimed at ensuring fair procurement process.

District Mandi Officer Gaurav Garg said check posts had been set up at Doomwali, Chak Ruldu Singh Wala, Sekhu, Natheha, Teona Pujarian, Kanakwal, Giana, Chathe and Gatwali villages. Recently, a truck bearing a Rajasthan number was found unloading wheat at a private godown in Bathinda. However, officials clarified that it belonged to a food processing unit.

Wheat crop on 56 acres set ablaze in Muktsar

Muktsar: SAD leader and Khane Ki Dhab former sarpanch Raghbir Singh alleged that an unidentified person set afire his wheat crop on 56 acres on Monday. He said the accused arrived in a car with the front registration number plate missing. “Some villagers claimed to have seen the occupants escaping in a car after the incident,” he added. Raghbir said he had taken the land on lease.