🚜 Punjab CM Announces Possible Shift of India-Pakistan Border Fence: What It Means for Farmers
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has revealed that the Centre has agreed “in principle” to move the India-Pakistan border security fence closer to the actual boundary. While the Union Home Ministry has yet to issue an official statement, the move could bring significant relief to…
🌍 What Fence Realignment Means
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The current fence, built in the 1990s to curb infiltration, lies 2–3 km inside Punjab in many areas, rather than the internationally accepted 150 metres from the zero line.
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This has left large tracts of farmland inaccessible, forcing farmers to cross the fence daily with ID cards under BSF escort.
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Shifting the fence closer to the border would return this land to the accessible side, enabling cultivation without fear or bureaucratic hurdles.
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📊 Impact on Farmers
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Thousands of acres of farmland would come within the fence, ending years of restricted access.
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Farmers currently allowed to work only between 9 am and 4 pm would gain freedom to manage their fields more flexibly.
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Women and labourers would be spared daily security checks, reducing stress and physical strain.
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Irrigation challenges caused by lack of tubewell connections beyond the fence would be resolved, cutting losses.