Haryana Government on Thursday urged the Central Government to get the incomplete part of the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYl) Canal constructed at the earliest and also, ensure implementation of the final verdict of the Supreme Court in this regard.
The State Chief Secretary, DS Dhesi met the Union Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry, Amarjit Singh in New Delhi to present Haryana’s case in this regard.
In an effort to resolve the long-pending SYl canal issue between Punjab and Haryana Governments, the Union Ministry on Thursday convened separate meetings with the senior officials of both Punjab and Haryana Governments to hear their case on SYl issue. The meeting with Haryana CS was held following the meeting of Union Secretary with senior officials of Punjab Government on the SYl issue.
Haryana CS DS Dhesi, while talking to the mediapersons after the meeting said that an all-party delegation of Haryana had submitted a memorandum to the President Pranab Mukherjee, for construction of the canal on November 28, 2016.
Taking action on this memorandum, the Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry, had called the meeting at which he was apprised of the issues raised in the memorandum, said Dhesi.
The CS said two main issues were highlighted at the meeting including the verdicts delivered by the Supreme Court in January, 2002 and June, 2004, and the verdict on the Presidential Reference delivered on November 10, 2016.
Haryana Government had submitted Execution Application for implementation of these judgments in the Supreme Court, on which hearings were held on April 10 and 12. The next hearing would be held on April 27, he added.
When asked whether the Union Secretary was apprized about steps taken by Punjab Government’s to bypass the SC directions, Dhesi said that such issues have not been discussed and the Haryana Government has sought for an early completion of the SYl canal.
On being asked whether the Union Government has sought any suggestions from Haryana to resolve SYl canal issue, he said that no suggestions have been sought from the State Government.
On the possibility of an outside Court settlement between the two State Governments on SYl issue, the Chief Secretary said that the Haryana has put forth its case today and now, the Union Government has to take a decision regarding the SYl issue.
last year on November 28, all party delegation of Haryana led by Chief Minister Manohar lal had met President Pranab Mukherjee urging him for implementation of the SC verdict on SYl issue at the earliest. An all party delegation had recently also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the SYl issue.
Notably, Haryana’s main Opposition party, Indian National lok Dal (INlD) is holding an indefinite protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since April 6, pressing for their demand of SYl canal construction. Ever since its creation in 1966, Haryana has been engaged in a dispute over sharing of river waters with Punjab.
The SYl is a proposed 214-km long canal to connect Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. Since it relates to water sharing between Punjab and Haryana, the two states have been fighting over it and the matter is now before the SC. Recently, the Union Minister for Water Resources and River Development Uma Bharti while commenting on Centre’s view on the issue had said that the SYl canal issue would be sorted out within the ambit of the law.