SYL: Centre steps in, calls Punjab, Haryana for talks
Representatives of two states have been called to Delhi on April 20 for amicable settlement of water dispute, attorney general tells apex court
In a major development in the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case, the Centre has invited Punjab and Haryana for talks to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement to the water dispute.
Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi informed the Supreme Court about the development and requested the court to postpone the hearing scheduled for April 12.
Rohatgi said representatives of the two states have been called to Delhi for a meeting on April 20. He made his submission before Justice PC GHose who is heading the bench hearing the SYL row.
Rohatgi’s submission came after senior counsel Ram Jethmalani, representing Punjab, requested the court to adjourn the hearing in the wake of a possible out of court solution. However, Haryana government counsel, senior advocate Shyam Divan, opposed the adjournment request. He said let the matter come up as scheduled. After hearing all the parties, the court declined to postpone the hearing and said let the case come up on April 12.
Punjab has also been requesting the top court to ask the Centre to mediate the dispute. It had in February informed the court that it was not possible to retrieve the canal land that had been given back to the landowners.
We welcome the move. Punjab had been seeking the Centre’s intervention in the matter for long.
CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab CM