Resolving SYL canal issue to be major challenge before govt
Friday, 17/03/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=174866&boxid=58613&uid=&dat=2017-03-17
Chandigarh : To resolve the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) issue with his Haryana counterpart, following Supreme Court directions, will be a major issue before Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab. Though the Supreme Court has given its verdict in favour of Haryana yet the Punjab government is not ready to give Haryana its share of water.
Punjab Congress led by Capt Amarinder Singh contested the Vidhan Sabha election making the SYL Canal issue a main political issue. Following Apex Court’s verdict in November 2016, Capt Amarinder had resigned from the Lok Sabha while 42 Congress MLA resigned from the Vidhan Sabha to lodge their protest against Parkash Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government.
Accusing the Badal government for not presenting Punjab’s side, on the SYL Canal issue, effectively in the Apex Court, a delegation led by Amarinder Singh had approached President Pranab Mukherjee requesting him not to accept the Court’s judgment on the SYL canal.
He had been claiming that Punjab has no surplus water to be given to Haryana.
On the issue the issue, the Haryana Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, have refused to campaign for Punjab Congress leaders in Vidhan Sabha poll. All political parties of Haryana had joined hands against Punjab political parties.
Hooda even had said that he would campaign for the Punjab Congress leaders only if Captain assures SYL Canal water to his state.
Interestingly, Hooda attended the swearing-in ceremony of Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday. To attend the ceremony, Hooda accompanying Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders from Delhi, reached Chandigarh via a special charter plan, on Thursday.
Outspoken Haryana BJP leader Anil Vij, soon after Capt Amarinder Singh took oath, claimed that Haryana will get its share of water through SYL Canal during Capt Amarinder Singh’s tenure only.
