Some areas could not be demined because of their vulnerability and proximity to Pakistan.
For a farmer like Sohan Singh, the army's move to clear the landmines from the areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir comes as a huge relief. The move that comes 12 years after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire will facilitate farming in border areas.
In Jaurian Khaur, about 60 kilometres from Jammu, the army men and machines are working overtime clearing landmines to make the fields safe for farming.
"We have the land, and we are very happy, now we will start cultivation, we want that relations between India and Pakistan improve so that we get back our land", said Sohan Singh. His plot of land which remained strewn with landmines has been cleared by the army and handed back to him.
Most border areas were littered with landmines at the time of Kargil conflict, Operation Parakram and after the attack on Parliament. But after the ceasefire with Pakistan in November 2003, things began to normalise with most border residents, who had fled to safer areas, started returning to their villages.
However, some areas could not be demined because of their vulnerability and proximity to Pakistan.
"We had taken a decision in 2010 to demine this portion of land, it has been done now and handed over to the villagers, but for reasons of security we cannot demine any more areas here," said Major General Kulpreet Singh- General Officer Commanding 10 Infantry Div.