Supreme Court’s canal order sparks Punjab-Haryana political rift

The Supreme Court’s recent directive to the Center to assess the land earmarked in Punjab for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal construction has ignited political tensions.

Following the verdict, Punjab’s political factions unanimously declared the state’s inability to share any additional water with other states, asserting that not a single drop is available for distribution.

In contrast, Haryana’s political entities applauded the court’s decision, emphasising the longstanding anticipation of their populace for SYL water.

Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, expressed his gratitude towards the Supreme Court via a post on ‘X’, stating, “SYL is Haryana’s lifeline and its people’s right.” He urged immediate compliance from the Punjab government and called on the Central Government for a swift survey of the SYL.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab countered, stating neither water nor land availability for the canal’s construction. Opposition parties are now urging for a special assembly session and an all-party congregation to discuss this pressing issue.

The SYL canal, designed for optimised water allocation from the Ravi and Beas rivers, spans 214 km. While Haryana completed its 92 km stretch, Punjab halted its 122 km construction in 1982.

AAP spokesperson, Malvinder Singh Kang, reiterated Punjab’s firm stance of having no surplus water to share. Various political leaders in Punjab, including Pratap Singh Bajwa, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and Bikram Singh Majithia, echoed similar sentiments.

However, Haryana’s officials, including Home Minister Anil Vij and BJP President OP Dhankhar, implored Punjab for cooperation and cautioned against politicising the issue.

SAD urges Punjabis to block SYL canal survey

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) urged Punjabis today to prevent central teams from conducting a survey on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal land in Punjab. The party claimed it wouldn’t allow the canal’s establishment in the state.

During a press meet, SAD’s senior leader, Bikram Singh Majithia, demanded clarifications from both the AAP government and the State’s BJP unit regarding their stance on the survey initiated by the central government. He criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar for not speaking out against the survey earlier.

Majithia also asked the Punjab BJP leader to officially request the central government to abandon any survey plans for the SYL canal. Majithia stated that a former chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal, had previously returned over 4,500 acres of SYL-acquired land to its original 21,000 owners at no cost. He highlighted the state’s water crisis, with 109 out of 128 blocks suffering from severe groundwater depletion.

Accusing CM Bhagwant Mann of undermining Punjab’s stance on the SYL canal in the Supreme Court, Majithia claimed the chief minister was compromising Punjab’s water resources for political gains in neighbouring states. He emphasised that Mann’s actions were influenced by Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who has advocated for the SYL’s water distribution to Haryana and Delhi.

Furthermore, Majithia criticised the AAP government for lacking a clear strategy on conserving Punjab’s river waters. He alleged that the AAP was more focused on political matters, such as defending their excise policies and protesting against MP Sanjay Singh’s arrest, rather than prioritising Punjab’s water issues.