Can’t recover SYL land returned to farmers: Punjab to apex court
In an affidavit, state blames Centre for not resolving its water-sharing dispute with Haryana
The Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal issue has the potential of taking Punjab back to square one. There are people already waiting in the wings and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) will ginger them up. CAPTAIN AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab Congress president Political parties and leaders of Punjab and Haryana should refrain from indulging in gimmicks for cheap publicity over the SYL Canal at the expense of peace and stability in the state. PARKASH SINGH BADAL, Punjab chief minister
NEW DELHI: In a defiant stand, the Punjab government has expressed its inability to recover the land meant for the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal that was returned to landowners subsequent to a law passed by the state assembly last year.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Punjab government has blamed the Centre for not resolving its water-sharing dispute with Haryana. The Centre, it said, did not take a proactive stand and abdicated its constitutional duty.
The Punjab assembly had on November 16 passed a resolution to return the land acquired for the SYL canal to the farmers. The move followed the SC verdict that held Punjab could not have unilaterally cancelled the agreement to share Ravi-Beas river waters with other states. Haryana had rushed to the apex court challenging the November 16 resolution, which the SC had stayed.
“...the land in question having been already transferred to the landowners in obedience to the resolution of the legislative assembly dated November 16, 2016, the recovery of said land from the land owners is not possible,” read the affidavit filed by the Parkash Singh Badal government.
It advised the Centre to “immediately explore the transfer of Sarda river water to Yamuna under the feasibility report prepared by the National Water Development Agency, a premier agency of the Union ministry of water resources”. A bench headed by justice PC Ghosh will take up the affidavit on Wednesday. The court had on February 16 turned down the Punjab government’s request to hear the SYL Canal dispute after the announcement of results of assembly polls on March 11.
In its latest submission, Punjab has also asked the Centre to speed up the process of interlinking the rivers. “If this plan is executed, there is no need for either the SYL Canal or sharing the RaviBeas water to Haryana,” Punjab contended.
Punjab also said there was no legal or economic compulsion that Yamuna in Haryana should be augmented only by rivers flowing in Punjab.
Sensing that the political considerations may not allow the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Haryana government to use much force against opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) that has given a call to dig Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, the Punjab government has fortified Shambhu Barrier, the entry point of Punjab from the neighbouring state, to ensure status quo on the issue.
The government has barricaded roads, brick-walled bridges and deployed around 2,000 security personnel in the area. Drone cameras will be used to keep an eye on the movement of INLD workers on the Haryana side on Thursday, the day they are assembling at the Ambala Vegetable Market, 2km from the Shambu Barrier.
As Punjab and Haryana police are gearing up to avoid a face-off between the two states, the ministry of home affairs, too, is keeping tabs on the situation. Both state governments have demanded central reserved forces, 20 battalions by Punjab and five by Haryana.
Authorities in Punjab apprehend that Haryana government may not use force against the INLD as the action may have negative political repercussions, considering the sensitivity of the issue. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora is personally monitoring the security arrangements at Shambu Barrier, the entry point of Punjab from Haryana , including aerial surveillance. “The status quo order of the Supreme Court on SYL will be maintained at all costs,” said Arora.
“I don’t want to comment on hypothetical questions, but let me make it clear that all possible measures has been taken, forces are ready to tackle any situation,” he said, when asked the number of people he was expecting at the site.
The DGP reviewed the arrangements and issued instructions to strengthen the barricading.
More than 5,000 policemen have been asked to reach Patiala and central reserve force will arrive on Thursday. He also held a series of meetings with police officers from Haryana and both sides agreed to work in tandem. Flanked by DGP (law and order) Hardeep Dhillon, Arora briefed the cops at Shambu Sarai, where a temporary control room has been set up.
Dhillon will keep tabs on situation and Patiala IG B Chander Shekhar will lead the force on Thursday.
A mock drill will be conducted on Wednesday. SSPs of Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ropar; DIG (Patiala), DIG (Ropar) and several commandants of various police battalions have been called to Patiala. The central security forces will be deputed as the first line of defence, along with the Punjab Police. Sangrur SSP has been ordered to stop the All India Sikh Students Federation march at Sanaur, where they are going to assemble.
› No one will be allowed to violate the status quo order of the Supreme Court come what may. SURESH ARORA, DGP, Punjab