Following Punjab’s Government refusal to accept Supreme Court’s decision on the Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal, Haryana Cabinet Ministers on Thursday demanded that the Centre should deploy Police and central security forces to ensure that Haryana gets its share of water.
In a joint statement, Haryana Ministers Ram Bilas Sharma, Anil Vij, Kavita Jain and Rao Narbir Singh said that Punjab Government should abide by the decision of the Supreme Court and the SYl canal should be constructed so that fields in Haryana could get the water. The Ministers said if Punjab Government does not abide by this verdict, the Centre should get the canal constructed by deploying Police and central security forces.
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij also said that while the canal passes through Haryana, the digging of the canal had been carried out by Punjab. Therefore, the Punjab Government should get the canal constructed at the earliest as the water of SYl canal is the lifeline of Haryana, he saif.
All the Ministers also hailed the decision of the Supreme Court regarding SYl and congratulated the people of the state for this historical decision.
Notably, Haryana Assembly had last week unanimously passed a resolution condemning Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s recent statement that Punjab and Punjabis will not accept any verdict against the State’s interest on river waters.
Punjab CM Badal had on November 1 while referring to the contentious issue of SYl canal said that Punjab and Punjabis will not accept Supreme Court’s verdict against the State’s interest on river waters and are ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard their legitimate share on it.
Haryana ADGP (law and Order) Mohammad Akil said security has been beefed up in State. Senior police officials in all districts have been asked to beef up security and maintain law and order situation, he said.