Big relief for border farmers: Barbed fencing along the international border to be shifted 200 metres ahead
Decades-old issue resolved due to CM Bhagwant Mann’s initiative, farming and movement to become easier
There is big relief for farmers living in Punjab’s border areas as a decision has been taken to shift the barbed fencing along the international border 200 metres forward. This move will directly benefit thousands of border farmers who have been facing strict restrictions and checking-related hardships while carrying out farming activities for years. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s chief spokesperson Kuldeep Dhaliwal expressed gratitude to CM Mann for this historic decision.
Kuldeep Dhaliwal said that CM Mann effectively raised the decades-old issue of border farmers during a meeting with the Union Home Minister, following which this important decision was made. He said that along Punjab’s nearly 532-kilometre-long international border, a large portion of cultivable land was located outside the barbed fencing. With the fencing now being shifted forward, thousands of acres of land will come inside the fence, ending the difficulties farmers faced in accessing their own fields.
Dhaliwal said that earlier, farmers were allowed to cultivate their land only for a limited time—from 9 am to 4 pm. In addition, farmers, women, and farm labourers had to undergo strict security checks on a daily basis, causing mental and physical distress. In many areas, the absence of tubewell connections on the other side of the fence led to heavy losses due to irrigation problems. With the fencing being shifted, farmers will now be able to cultivate their land freely without fear or restrictions.
The AAP leader said that this decision will not only make farming easier but will also bring positive changes to the lives of people living in border areas. It will strengthen farmers’ livelihoods while ensuring their dignity and security. He added that the decision reflects how CM Mann’s government takes ground-level issues seriously and raises farmers’ concerns at every level.
During the press conference, Kuldeep Dhaliwal also informed that CM Mann raised the issue of Punjab’s pending ₹10,000 crore Rural Development Fund (RDF) during the meeting. CM Mann demanded that at least 25 percent of the amount be released immediately, to which the Centre has given a positive response.
Dhaliwal also strongly opposed the Centre’s new ‘Seed Bill’. He said the bill is not in the interest of farmers but has been brought to benefit corporate houses. CM Mann has made it clear that Punjab will not accept such laws brought without taking farmers and agricultural experts into confidence. He reiterated that CM Mann’s government will continue to fight for the interests of Punjab and its farmers.