Bhubaneswar, Dec 19:With the Kharif paddy procurement season for 2025–26 underway and concerns over possible illegal movement of paddy, Mayurbhanj Collector Hema Kanta Say has directed heightened security along the district’s interstate borders.
In a letter dated December 18, the Collector wrote to District Superintendent of Police Varun Guntupalli, instructing the deployment of armed police personnel at check posts along the Odisha–Jharkhand and Odisha–West Bengal borders.
The Collector expressed apprehension that paddy may be illegally transported into Mayurbhanj from neighbouring districts of Jharkhand and West Bengal, as farmers and traders could be tempted by Odisha’s higher Minimum Support Price (MSP). To curb such activities, he proposed the operation of check posts on several key border roads connecting Palasmundali at Tukpalasia; Dhumsahi and Sirsa at Jamsola; Sarskana at Paktia; Deuli at Chaksuliapada; Chandu at Bandav; Tiring–Jadunathpur and Tiring; Bahalada–Nandabasa; Bhalupani; and Raruan–Benisagar and Chiruhatu.
The letter also noted that CCTV cameras have already been installed at all identified border points along the Odisha–Jharkhand and Odisha–West Bengal boundaries. Emphasising the need for additional security, the Collector urged the SP to make necessary arrangements for the deployment of armed police along with supporting staff at these check posts.
Meanwhile, the paddy procurement process has gathered pace across the state. Procurement is currently underway in Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundargarh districts. In other districts, procurement will be carried out in phases based on decisions taken by the respective District Level Paddy Procurement Committees.
So far, a total of 2,24,704 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 49,051 farmers in these districts. Sambalpur has recorded higher procurement this year compared to the same period last year, with paddy collected from 18,891 farmers so far, against 14,896 farmers during the corresponding period last year. While procurement in Sambalpur began on November 25 last year, it commenced on December 2 this year.
