Chandigarh, April 13 -- The Centre has begun the process to shift border fencing in Punjab closer to the zero line to facilitate farmers in border districts and reduce restrictions on cultivation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has written to deputy commissioners of Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Fazilka to carry out a social impact survey on the proposed move, with SDMs expected to start the exercise soon.

At present, farmers are allowed to access land beyond the fence only during fixed hours set by the Border Security Force, which guards Punjab's 553-km border with Pakistan.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the decision will bring lakhs of acres within the fenced area, enabling farmers to cultiv...