Supreme Court sticks to past verdict that construction of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal has to be executed.

Source:- indiatimes.com

CHANDIGARH: The Supreme Court on Wednesday stuck to its earlier verdict that the construction of the Sutlej- Yamuna link (SYL) canal has to be executed and asked Haryana and Punjab to maintain law and order “at any cost” in view of a proposed protest by a political outfit tomorrow over the inter-state water row.

Satluj Yamuna Link Canal or SYL as it is popularly known, is a proposed 214-kilometer long canal in India to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. However, the proposal met obstacles and was referred to the Supreme Court of India. It defines river water sharing between the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Punjab has already fortified state border with Haryana, after Indian National Lok Dal led by Chautalas threatened to dig the SYL canal on the Punjab side on Thursday. The SYL issue has put life back in the INLD cadre and party is trying to make best out of the situation by mobilizing its workers. With the ruling BJP and opposition INLD on the same page in Haryana, a wary Punjab Government has sealed all routes and asked for additional Para military forces.

By Wednesday evening a large number of INLD workers had assembled at Ambala grain market.INLD Secretary General Abhay Chautala will address the workers at Ambala on Thursday morning, before the march towards Punjab.

“Supreme court verdict has to be executed at any cost. If Punjab Government fails to execute orders, we have no option but to to dig the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. INLD doesn’t need any permission as the SYL canal, was the right of the state,” says Chautala.

Punjab, in its affidavit, has maintained that the Punjab Termination of Water Agreement Act of 2004 was still in force and discharges it of all responsibility to provide water to other states.

It claimed that the SC verdict that the 2004 Act was unconstitutional did not render the law invalid as the apex court had only given an opinion on the Presidential reference.

The issue of riparian rights had taken centre stage during the run up-to the Punjab assembly elections. In all rallies, with SAD-BJP, and its traditional rival Congress and debutant Aam Admi Party claiming not to provide a single drop to BJP led Government in Haryana, by opposing the construction of SYL canal.

But, Centre came up with an alternate solution to the prevailing crises.

“We have decided to route the water from the Indus, which currently flows into Pakistan, who do not have the right over this, to the farmers of Punjab, who rightfully deserve it. Punjab’s farmers, India’s farmers will get water from India’s rivers. Indus water flowing to Pakistan will be diverted to Punjab,” PM had said.

To convey the sentiment that Manohar Lal led BJP Government is in favour of the Supreme Court verdict, Haryana police may just show symbolic resistance to the INLD workers marching towards Punjab.

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora is personally monitoring the security arrangements at Shambhu Barrier, the entry point of Punjab from Haryana, including aerial surveillance. “Law and order will be maintained at any cost,” Arora assured.

More than 5,000 policemen have reached at Shambhu barrier, the entry point near from Haryana to Punjab, and central reserve forces are expected to reach by midnight.