Punjab Border Farmers Pin Hopes on Fence Relocation Survey to Reclaim 21,500 Acres of Lost Land

Farmers living along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab have welcomed the government’s decision to initiate a survey aimed at examining the possibility of shifting border fencing closer to the international boundary, a move they say could significantly ease long-standing agricultural difficulties faced in the region. The proposed exercise is expected to assess whether land currently lying between the international border and the fencing can be made more accessible for cultivation.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann recently stated that letters have been issued to the deputy commissioners of border districts, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Fazilka, and Ferozepur, directing them to conduct detailed surveys. The objective is to evaluate how close the existing fencing can be relocated to the international border and to examine the feasibility of such a shift in coordination with security agencies.

Farmers in these border areas have for years faced challenges in accessing their fields located beyond or between the border fencing and the actual boundary line. Strict regulations imposed by security forces, including limited farming hours and frequent checks by the Border Security Force (BSF), have often disrupted agricultural activities and affected crop productivity in the region.

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According to estimates, nearly 21,500 acres of farmland belonging to Punjab farmers, along with around 10,000 acres of government land, lie in the stretch between the existing fencing and the international border. This land has remained difficult to cultivate efficiently due to security restrictions and logistical limitations, despite being agriculturally fertile and actively used by local farmers.

The announcement of the survey has brought renewed hope among the farming community, who believe that shifting the fence closer to the border could reduce travel time, improve access to fields, and ease operational constraints. Many farmers are now urging authorities to ensure that the survey is conducted swiftly and transparently so that long-pending issues related to border farming can be addressed.

Officials have indicated that the findings of the survey will be crucial in determining future policy decisions regarding border infrastructure. While security considerations will remain paramount, the government is expected to balance them with the livelihoods of farmers who depend heavily on agriculture in these sensitive regions.

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