-SATISH HANDA

Both Punjab chief minister Capt. Amrinder Singh and Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter has started comments against each other over long pending issue of SYL canal water. Capt. Amrinder Singh in a recent meeting with all political opposition leaders in Punjab state said that there is no surplus SYL canal water available in Punjab to share with any other state claiming it the lifeline of farmers in Punjab state and said Punjab itself facing severe water crisis in the state. On the other hand Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter reacting over Punjab chief minister’s statement said that Punjab government is not willing to sort out this long pending issue mutually since decades in-spite of the fact Supreme Court of India’s decision in favour of Haryana state.

In this meeting, Shiromani Akali Dal members made a proposal to sort out water issue as per ‘Raiperian Policy’, whereas Aam Aadmi Party members said that other states are trying to rob water from rivers in Punjab state blaming previous governments responsible for lapses including Punjab Pollution Control Board neglect made rivers as well as underground water polluted and unfit for use. All part leaders in Haryana state suggested to join hands and set up a tribunal necessary for improvements as per International Rivers Water Dispute Act to make available water required for people especially farmers in the state and meet Prime Minister Narender Modi to solve this long pending issue immediately to implement action as per Supreme Court of India direction to solve mutually by the chief ministers of both states with the involvement of Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Haryana Dushyant Chautala too expressed concern over Punjab government avoiding Supreme Court of India directions to share SYL canal water with people in Haryana state. He said, no body can violate Supreme Court of India decision and stop supply of SYL canal water of their share to Haryana state. INLD leader Abhey Singh Chautala, too, demanded ruling BJP-JJP alliance government in Haryana state along with all political parties in the state should give reply to Punjab government recently passed a resolution along with all political parties m Punjab not to share a single drop of SYL canal water with farmers in Haryana state on the ground that Punjab has no spare water to share with any other state.

Expressing deep concern Abhey Chautala said that all political parties in Punjab have joined hands on the decision not to share SYL canal water with Haryana state of their share and obey Supreme Court of India directions as such ruling BJP-JJP government in Haryana state should also pass a resolution in alliance with all political parties in the state and take up matter with Prime Minister Narender Modi for implementation of Supreme Court of India orders without further delay. Chautala expressed surprise over ruling Haryana government not worried for the people especially farmers in the state. He said, 260 acres land was acquired by the government when INLD was ruling in Haryana state for construction of Dadupur-Nalwi river project to benefit farmers in Yamunanagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra and other districts but ruling BJP government in the state de-notified this project. INLD leader accusing ruling alliance government in Haryana state expressed surprise over stabbing this beneficial water resources scheme for the reasons best known to them, besides collapse of useful rain water harvesting scheme allegedly due to corruption.