CHANDIGARH, Punjab—After revoking the special status of Jammu & Kashmir by scrapping Article 370, the BJP led saffron Indian government seems all set for hitting its next target Punjab. It is learnt that the Centre, Punjab and Haryana will be sitting together tomorrow to discuss upon completing the construction of SYL canal.
It is noteworthy here that this meeting has been called upon at the behest of the Supreme Court of India, which will be convened by the secretary of Union Water Resources Ministry. The Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana will represent the two states in this meeting while the principal secretaries, irrigation, of both states will also be present.
On July 9, the Supreme Court of India had directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana to constitute a high level committee of its officials to sort out the SYL-canal issue.
After observing that its previous orders of completing the construction of SYL-canal were not being imposed, the Supreme Court had said that if the two states can’t sort out this issue then the Centre must help them.
The next hearing on this case is scheduled for September 3.
What is Punjab’s stance on SYL-canal?
On March 14, 2016, the former SAD led Punjab government had unanimously passed The Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Act-2016 in the Punjab assembly. It was decided to de-notify the land acquired from farmers for the SYL-Canal project and return it back to them free of cost.
While the Governor’s assent to Bill was being awaited, the Haryana government had moved to the Supreme Court seeking annulation of the Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Act-2016 passed by the Punjab government.
