Centre’s alternative to SYL canal may not find favour with Haryana
CENTRE HAS PROPOSED THAT INSTEAD OF COMPLETING CONTENTIOUS CANAL, HANSIBUTANA BHAKRA MAIN LINE LINK CANAL BE OPERATIONALISED UNDER BBMB
CHANDIGARH: The Central government’s efforts to settle the contentious issue of completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal by offering an alternative may not find favour with the Haryana government.
The options entail giving up the demand for construction of the SYL canal by the Punjab government. The Centre, during the hearing of a suit filed by Haryana on September 7, had sought more time from the Supreme Court to work out a settlement between the two states.
PROPOSED OPTIONS
After holding parleys with the officials of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan recently, the Centre had come up with a proposal suggesting that instead of completing the contentious SYL canal, the Hansi-Butana Bhakra Main Line link canal be operationalised under the management and supervision of an independent agency such as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
The central government has also suggested that about 1,000 cusecs of additional water can be released to Haryana from the savings to be effected by Punjab. HARYANA RELUCTANT Though the options and modalities to execute the apex court orders for constructing the canal were being deliberated, indications are that Haryana may not agree to the alternative proposal.
Top officials said that Centre had circulated the draft of an affidavit listing out the options to the three governments for comments. The Union ministry of water resources wanted the concurrence of the state governments before filing the affidavit in the apex court. However, the affidavit could not be filed as the Haryana government showed its reluctance.
The options listed in the draft affidavit said that additional 1,000 cusecs water can be released to Haryana out of the savings to be effected by Punjab through Hansi-Butana branch and Narwana branch as per the available capacity in these channels.
This would also safeguard the remaining share of Rajasthan (0.17 million acre feet) over and above the existing 0.3 million acre feet from Bhakra main line subject to pro rata adjustment.
The Hansi-Butana BML Link will function under the supervision of BBMB.
To help the states, the central government would provide support for water conservation measures, management and optimum utilisation of available water resources by the three states. “To ensure this agreement is effectively implemented, BBMB would be in-charge of entire implementation of above proposal and responsible for its fulfillment,’’ as per the draft affidavit.
Sources privy to the deliberations on the issue said the proposed option of giving 1,000 cusecs to Haryana “out of the savings of Punjab” was something which is not definitive.
Moreover, giving up the claim to build SYL despite the Supreme Court rulings in their favour would be a loss of face for the Haryana government and hurt the ruling BJP politically.