:dateline:Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, stated in the Punjab assembly on�Friday�that he would not allow the Satluj Yamuna Link�Canal�to be built�at any cost. His statement came�after the Supreme Court�s directive to the Punjab government to halt any actions being taken�on the canal issue.
According to Chief Minister Badal,�the construction of SYL-Canal is neither necessary nor possible because�Punjab�does not have a�single drop of water to spare. He added that he would not accept any verdict violating the rights of Punjab.
Badal�s resolution for the Punjab assembly said, �At present times, Punjab is facing a severe water crisis. The state has not a single drop of spare water to share with others. In this view, there was no need to construct Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal and even today there is no need to do so. This house unanimously resolves that the construction of SYL-Canal won�t be allowed at any cost.�
Badal also clarified that the owners of the land designated for canal construction have retaken possession of it �following the passage�of the Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Act.�
At a�public appearance in Moga also on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, reiterated his father�s statements that Punjab had no water�to spare. He added that the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was ready to sacrifice anything to defend the�rivers of Punjab.�
Sukhbir Badal posted a status on his official Facebook page later on Friday�stating, �It�s not just water; it is the lifeline that sustains Punjab’s Agro-economy. It is the lifeblood of farmers. The land of five Rivers and it’s people are fully prepared for a sustained democratic and peaceful fight for justice over the critical ??SYL issue. We will not allow any injustice towards our farmers and our Punjab.�
