- Center’s action is not to embroil two state each other, while to find a solution
CHANDIGARH: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Haryana CM Manohar Lal will hold a meeting on SYL issue on October 14. Both the CMs will sit together and try to find a solution to the pending issue.
What did the Supreme Court say about the matter?
The Supreme Court in early September had asked the central government to hold a meeting with the states of Punjab and Haryana to resolve the years-old dispute over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The court had said that this is a sensitive matter and it cannot be left like this in the larger interest of the country.
The Supreme Court last month said that the canal is meant to address the water shortage. “Water is a natural resource and living beings must learn to share it, whether it be individuals, States or countries… There is a shortage. But if you look at it only from the point of view of the State, then somebody will look at it from the point of view of the city… Then what will happen? I know there are sensitive issues in the state (Punjab), but some calls have to be taken. In the larger interest of the country, you have to sit down and work it out. It cannot be left as a festering wound. Water is a natural wealth to be shared. How it has to be shared is a mechanism to be worked out. We expect parties to work out a way to share the national wealth,” Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, heading a three-judge bench, told Punjab and Haryana.
What does Punjab have to say on the SYL issue?
However, Punjab had told the Supreme Court that it cannot sent water to other states ignoring the interests of its farmers. Punjab had also said that the matter should not be heard by the Supreme Court, but should be heard by the Tribunal. Punjab says that it has first right on the water of Sutlej, Beas River. Then someone else's number comes.
What arvind kejriwal said on this matter?
After the Supreme Court's decision, after stirring the politics of both the states, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal had said that there is a shortage of water in Punjab and Haryana. The water level is going down here too. The central government should provide water to Haryana and Punjab. The action of the Center is not to fight the two states, but to find a solution. We have to connect 130 crore people. We don't have to fight with each other. Haryana and Punjab can get water. But the central government has to take responsibility.
What Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said
On the other hand, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal had said that if Punjab gives water from SYL, then not only Haryana will benefit from it, but Delhi will also get direct benefit. Instead of giving water to Haryana, Punjab is celebrating happiness by giving it to Pakistan. If Punjab gives water to Haryana, the water going to Pakistan will not go there.