SYL canal will never become reality: Badal

AMRITSAR: Asserting that the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal would "never become a reality", Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said any move to share the river waters of the state would be "disastrous".

Addressing a function on the dedication of temple-cumpanorama complex at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal (Ram Tirath) here on Thursday, the Chief Minister asserted that Punjab didn't have a single drop of water to spare for any- one. "Any move to share the river waters of the state would be disastrous as it would lead to its desertification," he said.

"Not only me, but every Punjabi is duty bound to oppose this move and all of us should take a pledge at this sacred place to protect the river waters of the state at any cost" said Badal.

The Chief Minister said the state government on its part has already de-notified the land acquired for this canal and returned to the original owners and their lineal descendents. The Supreme Court on Wednesday had appointed receivers in the ongoing Sutlej-yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute between Punjab and Haryana and sought a report from them by December 15 on the present status of land and other properties on the canal site.

However, the court has made clear that receivers would not be taking over of the possession of the land meant for the SYL canal project.