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Punjab would burn if the state is forced to share water resources with Haryana under the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal project.

Satlej issue and History

Sutlej_Yamuna_Canal

  • Satluj Yamuna Link has been a burning issue between the two states.
  • 214 kilometer long canal to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers under construcion.
  • The canal is built to draw Haryana’s share of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers.
  • It was decided in 1981 that both Punjab and Haryana would construct their portions of the canal within their territories.
  • Haryana completed the work and Punjab did not completed yet.
  • In 2016, the Supreme Court struck down the law passed by Punjab in 2004 to end the 1981 agreement.
  • In the next year Punjab asked the central government to take over the construction.
  • Also a share of water is flow to other three states : Jammu and Kahsmir, Rajastha and Delhi.

Why Punjab Opposing

  • Punjab feels it utilised its precious groundwater resources to grow crop.
  • In July 1985, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the then SAD chief Harchand Singh Longowal signed an accord for a new tribunal. A few days late Longowal was assassinated by militants.
  • Five years later, a chief engineer ML Sekhri and a superintending engineer Avtar Singh Aulakh were killed by militants.
  • Chief Minister fears Pakistan and secessionist organisations like Sikh For Justice could exploit this and foment trouble in the state.
  • Besides Punjab is facing severe water crisis due to over-exploitation of its underground.
  • State wants a tribunal seeking a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability as no scientific assessment of Punjab river water conducted.

Latest Supreme Court Decision

  • Supreme Court directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana on July 28 to negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue.
  • Both sides meets and remained inconclusive.

Source : Indian Express

Topic 

Prelims : Canal and the region

GS III : Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

 

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