Punjab Border Farmers Seek Swift Survey to Shift Fence Closer to International Border
Farmers in Punjab's border districts are urging authorities to expedite surveys aimed at shifting the security fencing closer to the India-Pakistan International Border (IB). Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that letters have been sent to deputy commissioners in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Ferozepur to assess the feasibility of moving the fence. Currently, approximately 21,500 acres of private farmland and 10,000 acres of government land lie between the existing fence and the IB. Farmers face significant hardships due to strict Border Security Force (BSF) protocols, including limited access hours, mandatory frisking, and the requirement for armed escorts. These restrictions severely impact agricultural productivity and daily livelihoods. The proposed shift aims to demarcate a 300-meter area for the new fence, potentially returning thousands of acres to unrestricted cultivation. While political leaders describe this as a long-pending demand finally being addressed, farmers on the ground report that official survey teams have not yet appeared, expressing hope that the implementation will alleviate their decades-long struggles with security constraints and suspicion.
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Punjab Border Farmers Seek Swift Survey to Shift Fence Closer to International Border
Farmers in Punjab's border districts are urging authorities to expedite surveys aimed at shifting the security fencing closer to the India-Pakistan International Border (IB). Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that letters have been sent to deputy commissioners in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Ferozepur to assess the feasibility of moving the fence. Currently, approximately 21,500 acres of private farmland and 10,000 acres of government land lie between the existing fence and the IB. Farmers face significant hardships due to strict Border Security Force (BSF) protocols, including limited access hours, mandatory frisking, and the requirement for armed escorts. These restrictions severely impact agricultural productivity and daily livelihoods. The proposed shift aims to demarcate a 300-meter area for the new fence, potentially returning thousands of acres to unrestricted cultivation. While political leaders describe this as a long-pending demand finally being addressed, farmers on the ground report that official survey teams have not yet appeared, expressing hope that the implementation will alleviate their decades-long struggles with security constraints and suspicion.
The Indian Express