Border area farmers want BSF to relax rules for wheat harvesting

Farmers in the area who have to cross the fencing on the Indo-Pak border to harvest their wheat crop have demanded relaxation in the recently released norms stipulated by the Border Security Force (BSF).

Surjit Singh Bhura, state vice-president of the Punjab Border Area Kisan Union, said in a press release issued here on Tuesday that the headquarters of 148 Battalion of BSF in Khemkaran recently issued orders that one gate would be opened for one post of the BSF to go across the fencing and only one combine machine for one gate would be allowed to harvest wheat crop. The farmer leaders said that the timing to go across the fencing has been fixed from 8 am to 4 pm which was extended previously as per the needs of the farmers. The farmer leaders said that in case their grievances are not heard, they may boycott the harvesting of their crop across the fencing.

The permission of the BSF is necessary for the farmers to enter their fields across the fencing.

The farmer leaders said that if acted upon as per the new instructions of the Khemkaran headquarters of the BSF, the harvesting period will linger on and may cause loss of produce. Moreover, certainty in weather conditions too cannot be forecast, leading to need for deviations.

SK Singh, BSF Adjutant, 148 Battalion, Khemkaran, said that he has assumed charge only today and the farmers must approach senior officers of the BSF.

Amritsar