SYL dispute: SC urges early "amicable solution" between Punjab, Haryana
The Supreme Court has directed Punjab and Haryana govt. to find an "amicable solution" to the longstanding Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal dispute. The Centre has invited both on April 20 to attempt an out-of-court settlement; if negotiations fail, the court would continue hearing the matter on April 27. "The Government of India is very keen to find a solution," said Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar.
- The Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL)
- Canal construction: SC asks Centre to build SYL link
- Punjab assembly passes law scrapping water-sharing agreement
- Punjab Assembly passes bill for scrapping SYL canal
- Punjab CM says Punjab has no water to 'spare'
- Khattar calls Punjab's bill 'unconstitutional', returns Badal's cheque
- Amarinder Singh resigns from Lok Sabha
- SYL dispute: SC urges early "amicable solution" between Punjab, Haryana
The Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL)
On 31 December 1981, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement to apportion the waters of the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej. The agreement also entailed the waters to be shared with Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
Canal construction: SC asks Centre to build SYL link
Punjab was directed by the SC to make the SYL canal functional in a year. Punjab sought a review of this decision, which was dismissed in SC in March 2002. In 2003, Punjab sought a release from its obligation to build the canal. In 2004, SC asked Centre under the supervision of a high-power committee to take up construction of the canal in Punjab.
Punjab assembly passes law scrapping water-sharing agreement
In 2004, the Punjab government decided to scrap the water-sharing arrangements with neighbouring states and withdrew from giving water to other states. The Punjab assembly unilaterally announced the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004. The act clearly declared that Punjab was "nullifying all agreements on water sharing and that no water would be given to Haryana."
Punjab Assembly passes bill for scrapping SYL canal
The Punjab State Assembly unanimously passed a bill against the building of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, in an attempt to divest its neighbouring states from getting water from Punjab's rivers. It also sought to transfer the land's proprietary rights back to the farmers free of cost. Leader of Opposition Charanjit Singh Channi supported the bill on behalf of the Congress Party.
Punjab CM says Punjab has no water to 'spare'
Badal said: "Punjab does not have a drop of water to spare and there is no question of our accepting or implementing any decision which deprives us of our fundamental right" and sent a cheque to Haryana returning all the funds received from Haryana.
Khattar calls Punjab's bill 'unconstitutional', returns Badal's cheque
The Haryana assembly strongly objected to the bill passed by the Punjab assembly. CM Khattar said Punjab's decision to de-notify the land for the SYL canal was "unilateral, unconstitutional and denying the authority of the Supreme Court, a step only to draw political mileage". Further, Khattar returned Punjab's cheque for approximately "Rs. 191crore in lieu of all the funds it received for the project."
Amarinder Singh resigns from Lok Sabha
Amarinder Singh of the Punjab Congress resigned from the Lok Sabha over the SC verdict on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal water sharing agreement. Singh met speaker Sumitra Mahajan to tender his resignation from the house over what he called "injustice" meted out to the people of Punjab. Singh had announced his resignation much earlier, in the wake of the SC verdict.
SYL dispute: SC urges early "amicable solution" between Punjab, Haryana
The Supreme Court has directed Punjab and Haryana govt. to find an "amicable solution" to the longstanding Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal dispute. The Centre has invited both on April 20 to attempt an out-of-court settlement; if negotiations fail, the court would continue hearing the matter on April 27. "The Government of India is very keen to find a solution," said Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar.
