Farmers residing in the border areas of six districts in Punjab are set to receive significant relief. Following a green signal from the Central Government, a plan has been formulated to advance the barbed-wire fencing situated near the India-Pakistan border, thereby making a substantial amount of land available for farmers’ use once again. In many locations, the fencing was situated 1 to 2 kilometers away from the actual border. Consequently, approximately 120,000 farming families in Punjab were being adversely affected, as they were permitted to cultivate their land only between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, under the strict surveillance of the Border Security Force (BSF). Now, following the approval granted by the Central Government, there is a plan to shift this fencing by 150 to 200 meters closer toward the International Border. This move will bring thousands of acres of land out from behind the fencing, providing immense relief to the farmers.
This initiative will return cultivable land—which had remained inaccessible to farmers for a long time due to being situated beyond the wire fencing—back into their possession, enabling them to farm without any restrictions. For any land that continues to remain beyond the fencing, the government will provide compensation. As a result, a significant amount of land will be brought out from behind the barbed-wire fence, allowing farmers to cultivate it without any hindrance. In fact, due to the fencing erected in 1992, a large quantity of land—despite technically lying within the national territory—had ended up on the other side of the wire fence. This situation affected thousands of farmers, compelling them to carry out their farming activities only for limited durations under the constant supervision of security forces.
**Relief for Farmers in These 6 Districts**
This new arrangement will directly benefit farmers in the districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. The government has provided assurances that compensation will be disbursed in accordance with prevailing market rates and that no injustice will be allowed to occur against anyone. Farmers will receive compensation calculated based on current market rates. Following the Central Government’s approval of this scheme, officers at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) level have been vested with the powers of a District Collector for this specific task, ensuring that decisions regarding compensation and rehabilitation can be expedited at the district level. Furthermore, administrative officials have been granted enhanced powers to expedite the implementation of decisions related to compensation and rehabilitation. It is anticipated that while this measure will provide relief to farmers, it will also further bolster border security.
**Approved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah**
Notably, the State Government recently met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise the issue that, due to the barbed-wire fencing erected along the border, thousands of acres of fertile agricultural land have ended up on the other side of the fence, thereby creating difficulties for farmers in carrying out farming activities. A demand was placed before the Union Minister that either adequate compensation be provided to the farmers for the land situated beyond the fence, or the barbed-wire fencing be relocated 200 meters inward from the International Border on the Indian side. Subsequently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave his approval to this proposal.
