Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has received an assurance from the Centre regarding the long-pending issue of barbed wire fencing along the India–Pakistan border, which has been affecting farmers with land beyond the fencing.
Bhagwant Mann Secures Assurance on Barbed Wire Issue After Meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah
According to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab unit, the assurance came after CM Mann’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during which concerns related to restricted farming access, security checks, and loss of cultivable land were raised.
AAP Punjab spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal stated that farmers were earlier allowed to cultivate land beyond the barbed wire only between 9 am and 4 pm, and were subjected to strict checking while entering and exiting the border area. These restrictions, along with security-related hurdles, had caused significant hardship for farmers over the years.
Centre has reportedly assured that the barbed wire fencing
Following the meeting, the Centre has reportedly assured that the barbed wire fencing can be shifted up to 200 metres forward, a move that could make thousands of acres of agricultural land cultivable again. The proposed change is expected to ease farming operations while addressing security concerns.
The Punjab government has consistently highlighted the impact of border fencing on farmers’ livelihoods, particularly in districts close to the international border. CM Bhagwant Mann has maintained that national security and farmers’ interests must be balanced without placing undue burden on those dependent on agriculture.
The development is being seen as a significant step towards resolving a sensitive issue that directly affects border-area farmers, with the Punjab government expressing hope that the assurance will soon translate into concrete action on the ground.
