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HomeNationPunjab defies SC, passes resolution saying no to Sutlej Yamuna Canal

Punjab defies SC, passes resolution saying no to Sutlej Yamuna Canal

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The Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution on the disputed issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, stating that it would not be allowed to be constructed at any cost.

Sutlej Yamuna Canal-AV

The development comes just a day after the Supreme Court accepted a Haryana government plea and ordered status quo over the land acquired for the canal.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moved a resolution which said that it “would not abide by any order against its interests on water”, which was passed by the House.

The Supreme Court had on Thursday stopped Punjab from returning till March 30 nearly 4000 acres of land acquired for the Sutlej-Yamuna canal to farmers.

The opposition Congress and the ruling Akalis, who govern Punjab in a coalition with the BJP, have combined to clear legislation to give back the land.

The resolution says the state won’t abide by any order that is not in its interest.

The resolution stated that there is no need for the SYL canal as Punjab has no water to share with any state.

Harcharan Bains, advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, said that the Assembly has passed a resolution unanimously that “circumstances be what they are, SYL canal cannot be built”.

“SYL canal cannot be allowed to be built in defiance of the rights of the state over its river waters,” Bains stated.

The development came a day after the apex court ordered status quo on the SYL canal.

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Anil R Dave said: “Prima facie, it appears that an effort has been made to see that the execution of a decree of this court is being made inexecutable and this court cannot be a silent spectator of the said fact and therefore, we direct that status quo shall be maintained by the parties…

Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki denies signing the proposal, but politicians have defied all rules to start filling up the canal with mud to ensure it cannot be used to route water to Haryana. Neither the police nor administration officials have dared to stop them.

Earlier on Thursday, Haryana Irrigation Minister OP Dhankar on Thursday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying he would stop water supply to Delhi after the latter took Punjab’s side in a water canal dispute between the two states.

“Seeing your stand (opposing the construction of Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal in Punjab) Haryana will not be able to deliver your share of water in Delhi since you have stood against the interests of the farmers and people of Haryana,” Dhankar said in a letter to Kejriwal.

“You took a stand against the interest of Haryana’s farmers and opposed the canal only for political reasons. Haryana will no longer provide water to Delhi”, he said.

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