Lila Dhar Sharma/Fazilka
The Punjab Border Area Farmers Union recently met with senior officials at the BSF headquarters in New Delhi, raising concerns about the challenges farmers face while farming beyond the barbed wire on the Indian side of the India-Pakistan border.
Sardar Surjit Singh Bhura, the state vice president of the Punjab Border Area Farmers Union, informed that they had a special meeting with BSF Director General Daljit Singh. They emphasized the need to resolve the farmers' difficulties as soon as possible, as farmers from the six border districts of Punjab, who cultivate land beyond the barbed wire, face numerous issues.
For example, crops are often damaged on a large scale by wild animals coming from the Pakistani side. Additionally, beyond the barbed wire is an 8-foot-wide path and a 14-foot-wide road, which farmers use to access their land through gates. However, the BSF has declared this road a dangerous zone, restricting farmers from using it, causing them significant distress. Without access to this road, how will the farmers continue farming?
Moreover, in many places, a 22-foot-wide road has been built on the Indian side of the barbed wire, which is now a permanent road used by BSF vehicles. Yet, farmers are still restricted from using this road. This is problematic, as there are no other roads or paths available for farmers to reach their land on both sides of the barbed wire.
Most of the gates are not opened at time, and many remain closed, forcing farmers to walk long distances to reach other gates. Another issue is the search lights installed along the barbed wire, which are used at night. The light from these search lights damages the crops underneath, preventing seeds from sprouting or the crops from ripening. Despite using various techniques to ripen their crops, farmers are exhausted and frustrated, with no solution in sight.
Farmers need to install underground pipelines to provide water to their crops beyond the barbed wire, but in many places, permission for this is not being granted, leaving farmers frustrated with no one listening to their grievances.
Additionally, most of the gates are not opened at time, and many remain closed, forcing farmers to walk long distances to reach other gates. Another issue is the search lights installed along the barbed wire, which are used at night. The light from these search lights damages the crops underneath, preventing seeds from sprouting or the crops from ripening. Despite using various techniques to ripen their crops, farmers are exhausted and frustrated, with no solution in sight.
Surjit Singh Bhura also highlighted that, in many places in Punjab, the barbed wire is installed far behind the actual border. He requested the BSF DG, Daljit Singh, to move the barbed wire closer to the border, maintaining a distance of 50 meters. He described the meeting as having taken place in a very positive atmosphere. DG Sahib assured that the demands are justified and will be resolved soon. They also urged the Indian government to address these issues promptly.