The Punjab Government has virtually made it clear that it would not go ahead with the construction of the contentious Satluj-Yamuna link (SYl) canal despite the Centre's intervention.
Taking a tough stand on the issue, the Government has decided to turn down any suggestion to construct the canal during the crucial meeting with the neighbouring Haryana in the presence of Centre's representatives scheduled for Thursday in New Delhi.
Sources informed The Pioneer that Punjab, to be represented by State Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and Principal Secretary (Irrigation) KBS Sidhu, would plead its case, against the construction of the canal, on the basis of depleting water table.
The State would seek the reassessment of water level, besides setting up of a tribunal for resolving the decades old contentious issue.
"We would convey that the State's water level is depleting, and Punjab has no water to share…In fact, it has not enough water to meet its own requirements. Already, the State's farming community is under huge debt, and for their crop, they are using the ground water which is already running down," said a senior Government functionary.
The water table has depleted drastically in 110 blocks out of total 138. The Central Ground Water Board has already declared 45 blocks as critical, suggesting to ban drawing more water.
The State would also take up the plea of "change in circumstances" since the issue was taken up initially. "In line with the Haryana claiming its share from Satluj, Ravi and Beas, we would also claim its water from Yamuna," added the official.
To further strengthen its case, the State is also expected to raise the point that canal construction and militancy in the State was linked. "large scale violence took place in Punjab when the canal construction had begun in 1990…the militants had killed 39 labourers and a chief engineer," recalled the official.
Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation's secretary Amarjit Singh would chair the meeting between the representatives of the two States on Thursday in New Delhi. To defend Haryana's case, its Chief Secretary DS Dhesi and Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Anurag Rastogi would be present.
The meeting has been convened by the Centre to discuss ways to implement the decree passed by the Supreme Court in 2002 about the construction of the canal.
"Our main point would be depleting water table and we would demand its reassessment. The quantum of water has considerably reduced from 17.17 MAF in 1980s to 13.38 MAF now…Punjab does not have any drop of water to spare, and that is what we are going to tell them," said the Government functionary.
The official added that they have received clear instructions from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh that "no matter what, we have to oppose every suggestion for the canal's construction."
Notably, Capt Amarinder has held a series of meetings on the issue to prepare on the State's stand. The issue was also taken up during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Capt Amarinder, during his previous tenure, had terminated all river waters sharing agreements with the neighbouring States by passing the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.
PM's meeting with CMs to follow The official added that after Thursday's meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would meet the Chief Ministers of both the warring States - Capt Amarinder Singh of Punjab and Manohar lal Khattar of Haryana - to resolve the issue.
This is the preliminary meeting to bring the two States on the same platform to discuss the issue amicably, and set the tone.