Following the Supreme Court’s orders on the SYL Canal issue, there is a stir in the political corridors of Punjab. The opposition is alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken a stance in favor of constructing the SYL Canal. Amidst a flurry of accusations, the opposition is vehemently criticizing the ruling government and adamantly stating that Punjab will not share a single drop of water with anyone.
A panel comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, CT Ravikumar, and Sudhanshu Dhulia strongly admonished the Punjab government for its approach to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute and urged them to cooperate in the resolution process.
In a recent development, the Supreme Court (SC) has issued a directive to the Central Government, instructing them to oversee the mediation process concerning the SYL canal dispute. Additionally, the Court has mandated a survey of the portion of land allocated to Punjab. The mediation process will also be closely monitored by the Centre. The Court has scheduled further hearings on this matter for January 2024.
The apex court has been handling the longstanding SYL canal dispute between the states of Haryana and Punjab.
Back in July 2020, the Supreme Court urged the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana to seek an amicable resolution to this ongoing issue.
The root of the problem lies in the contentious 1981 water-sharing agreement, which was formulated after Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966. The construction of the SYL canal was deemed necessary for the equitable distribution of water, with both states assigned the responsibility of building their respective sections within their territories.
