SRINAGAR: The Centre has agreed in principle to shift the border security fence in Punjab closer to the International Border, a move expected to bring major relief to farmers in the state’s border belt by restoring unhindered access to thousands of acres of agricultural land.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed him that the proposal is under active consideration and that the fencing would be relocated towards the International Border without compromising national security.
Punjab shares a 532-kilometre-long border with Pakistan, a significant portion of which is currently fenced inside Indian territory. As a result, large tracts of farmland lie beyond the existing fence, restricting access for farmers.
At present, hundreds of cultivators are permitted to cross the fence only for limited hours each day under strict supervision of the Border Security Force (BSF), citing security concerns. The arrangement has long posed logistical challenges and affected agricultural productivity in the region.
According to the Chief Minister, shifting the fence will place the farmland back on the accessible side, allowing farmers to carry out cultivation freely and reducing dependence on daily security clearances.
Mann said he raised the issue during a meeting with the Union Home Minister on Tuesday, where several matters related to Punjab were discussed.
The proposed move is being seen as a significant step towards addressing a long-standing demand of farmers living along the international border, while authorities maintain that security considerations will remain paramount.
