Hero Image

Drones, tall crops threat to national security on border; banned in Fazilka

Fazilka: The Fazilka deputy commissioner (DC) on Saturday banned the use of drone cameras in the district till September 20 and cultivation of crops which grow up to at least three feet near the border fence due to concerns over national security.

The orders came a day after the neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir government had issued an advistory, asking pilgrims and tourists to cut short their stay in Kashmir due to “intelligence inputs of terror threats”.

DC Manpreet Singh Chhatwal said flying drones was in violation of civil aviation rules and a bar had been imposed on the type of crops which can be grown near the border fence as taller varieties could provide terrorists cover to cross over from Pakistan.

Fazilka is the sourthermost border district of Punjab. It also shares the state border with Rajasthan. The DC said the district administration had observed that drone cameras were being used near the military station during marriage parties and other functions. Flying of camera-fitted drones is in violation of Director General of Civil Aviation’s policy on remotely piloted civil aircrafts. Keeping this in view, these orders have been issued, said the district magistrate.

The DC’s prohibitory order on cultivation of crops is for farms between the international border and border security fence, and up to 100 metres from the border fence.

The order reads that BSF authorities had brought to the notice of the district administration that some farmers were sowing tall crop varities like BT cotton, corn, jawar, sugarcane, sarro, toria, suraj mukhi and others between the international border and border fence. “There is a possibility of infiltrators crossing the India-Pakistan border under the cover of these crops,” he said.

READ ON APP