BSF urged to allow desilting of flooded land in Punjab villages

Farmers not permitted to use any machinery in fields across border fence for security reasons

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FARMERS in Punjab's six border districts have urged the Border Security Force (BSF) to allow the desilting of their fields, which lie between the border fence on the Indian side and the zero line on the IndoPak international border, once the floodwaters recede, as there is very little time left to sow wheat. Currently, farmers are not permitted to dig or use machinery in these fields due to security concerns.

Surjit Singh Bhura, Vice President of Punjab Border Kisan Welfare Society, told this newspaper that approximately 16,000 acres of land out of the total 21,600 acres between the border fence and the zero line in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, and Fazilka were submerged due to the floods.