Chandigarh, April 13
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said the Center has decided to shift the border fencing closer to the International Border with Pakistan, a move aimed at easing difficulties faced by farmers cultivating land near the frontier, with surveys ordered across border districts to implement the decision.
Mann said the proposed change would bring lakhs of acres of agricultural land within the fenced area, allowing farmers better access to their fields and greater freedom to choose crops and set working hours. He added that the move would reduce the need for repeated security checks and restrictions imposed by the Border Security Force.
“We had raised this issue many times with the Union Home Minister for the sake of our farmers living along the border. The fencing along the international border with Pakistan extends 3 to 4 km into Indian territory. As a result, their fields are left beyond the fence,” Mann said in a statement.
He noted that farmers in these areas have long faced challenges due to the location of the fencing, which forces them to cultivate land beyond the barrier under strict regulations and limited time access.
The chief minister said surveys have now been initiated to assess the areas where the fencing can be realigned, indicating that the process to bring more land within the secured perimeter has begun.
The decision is expected to improve farming conditions in border districts and provide relief to thousands of farmers who depend on these lands for their livelihood, while further steps will depend on the outcome of the ongoing surveys.
