Punjab farmers allowed to access fields beyond border fence
Naushehra Dhalla: Farmers along the Punjab's 553-km border with Pakistan are breathing a sigh of relief as the Border Security Force (BSF) has given them a go ahead to resume agricultural activities in their fields beyond the border fence.
The decision comes after the BSF sanitised the entire area beyond the border fence and declared it safe for the farmers to access their fields ahead of the
paddy sowing season
.
BSF inspector general, Punjab Frontier, Atul Fulzele informed on Monday that the BSF sanitised the entire area ahead of the border fence to ensure there were no explosives or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), making it safe for the farmers to resume work in their fields.
"We also held meetings with the farmers across the border belt and informed them that the BSF had cleared the area. They are free to go and work in their fields at any time," said Fulzele.
For the farmers who have their cultivable lands ahead of the border belt, the news is a lifeline. "We were staring at huge losses," said Manjinder Singh, a farmer from the border village of Naushera Dhalla. "Not being able to sow paddy would have ruined us.
Thanks to the BSF, we can now work on our fields and secure our livelihoods," said Manjinder, who owns seven acres of land ahead of the fence.
Such were the sentiments of Sukhjit Singh, who along with another farmer, Ranjodh Singh, went beyond the border fence on Monday. He expressed hope that they would be able to prepare their fields ahead of the fence by June 5, when the paddy sowing season begins — five days earlier than in the fields located on this side of the fence.
Dharmainder Singh, a resident of Daoke village, said the timely intervention of the BSF had brought renewed hope to farming communities, who could now proceed with their agricultural activities without fear. "I went to my fields beyond the border fence, there is nothing to worry about. The BSF troops are always with us," he said.
MSID:: 121270795 413 |
Naushehra Dhalla: Farmers along the Punjab's 553-km border with Pakistan are breathing a sigh of relief as the Border Security Force (BSF) has given them a go ahead to resume agricultural activities in their fields beyond the border fence.
The decision comes after the BSF sanitised the entire area beyond the border fence and declared it safe for the farmers to access their fields ahead of the paddy sowing season.
BSF inspector general, Punjab Frontier, Atul Fulzele informed on Monday that the BSF sanitised the entire area ahead of the border fence to ensure there were no explosives or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), making it safe for the farmers to resume work in their fields.
"We also held meetings with the farmers across the border belt and informed them that the BSF had cleared the area. They are free to go and work in their fields at any time," said Fulzele.
For the farmers who have their cultivable lands ahead of the border belt, the news is a lifeline. "We were staring at huge losses," said Manjinder Singh, a farmer from the border village of Naushera Dhalla. "Not being able to sow paddy would have ruined us.
Thanks to the BSF, we can now work on our fields and secure our livelihoods," said Manjinder, who owns seven acres of land ahead of the fence.
Such were the sentiments of Sukhjit Singh, who along with another farmer, Ranjodh Singh, went beyond the border fence on Monday. He expressed hope that they would be able to prepare their fields ahead of the fence by June 5, when the paddy sowing season begins — five days earlier than in the fields located on this side of the fence.
Dharmainder Singh, a resident of Daoke village, said the timely intervention of the BSF had brought renewed hope to farming communities, who could now proceed with their agricultural activities without fear. "I went to my fields beyond the border fence, there is nothing to worry about. The BSF troops are always with us," he said.
MSID:: 121270795 413 |
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