With no solution in sight over the long-pending dispute between Punjab and Haryana on Chandigarh’s ownership, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Tuesday said that the claim of the two states on Chandigarh is an issue which can be settled only on the basis of mutual understanding between the two. The Chief Minister was replying to the queries of mediapersons after visiting Dera Seechewal and Sultanpur lodhi, near Jalandhar.
The long-pending dispute over joint capital of Punjab and Haryana is lingering for several years now. Chandigarh, a union territory, is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana since November 1, 1966. Both the states have been staking claim to the city as their capital.
The Chief Ministers of both the states have been engaged in a war of words several times over the capital issue. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that since Swachhta Abhiyan was being run in the country, he visited Seechewal village and Sultanpur lodhi to see for himself the waste water treatment projects.
Hailing Seechewal as an ideal model, he said that it should be popularised and replicated elsewhere. The project is being run free of cost and such projects can help in keeping our villages neat and clean. Haryana Government would adopt the model of waste water treatment plant of Seechewal for the revival of Saraswati river, he added.
Notably, the BJP led Haryana Government has been making efforts to restore Saraswati creek from Adi Badri to Mustafabad in Yamunanagar district. The Saraswati river, considered sacred in Hindu religion, finds mention in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Rig Veda, Mahabharata, Ramayana and others, giving credence to the belief that it existed during those times.
Replying to a question regarding the moisture cut being charged from the paddy growers, Manohar lal said it had become necessary to adopt this formula as there used to be a number of complaints regarding overcharging by millers and arhtiyas in the name of moisture content. Adoption of this formula has put a check on such complaints. Both farmers and arhtiyas are happy with this decision of the Government, he said.
Manohar lal said that no money was being charged from those farmers whose crops had moisture content of up of to 17 per cent.
Asked about the burning of 'prali' (stubble), he said that it was wrong to burn prali as it led to pollution and affected the environment. The State Government would soon introduce a project under which power would be generated from 'prali' for which an agreement has been signed with Indian Oil Corporation, he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also visited Gurudwara Ber Sahib and enjoyed motorboat ride with Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal in holy Bein River. He also took a round of the nursery in Dera Seechewal, planted a sapling near the waste water treatment plant and appreciated the works being done by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal at the Dera.