Latest news with #Satluj-YamunaLink
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says SYL talks a ‘positive step forward'
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday following a fresh round of talks with Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Singh Mann , mediated by Union Jal Shakti minister C R Paatil, over the decades-old Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute. Speaking after the meeting in New Delhi, Saini said: "Today's meeting has taken a step forward. The previous meeting on July 9 also occurred in a positive atmosphere." He added that the states would now proceed "in a positive environment" during the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Aug 13. The Haryana CM declined to divulge specific details of the discussion but clarified that the talks remained focused on the SYL canal — a critical infrastructure project aimed at water-sharing — and not on any alternative 'Yamuna-Satluj' canal. Saini was joined by chief principal secretary Rajesh Khullar and senior officials from the irrigation and related departments. His counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, attended alongside Punjab officials. Tuesday's session marked the fifth high-level meeting between the neighbouring states since the Supreme Court directed the Centre to mediate the long-standing water dispute, which dates back to the 1980s. Even though the court has already ruled in favour of Haryana, implementation has stalled due to political and ground-level resistance from Punjab. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Two recent rounds of mediation — on July 9 and Aug 5 — come after meetings held between previous state leaders, including Manohar Lal Khattar and Capt Amarinder Singh in 2020, followed by meetings in 2022 and 2024. Both state govts, along with the Centre, are expected to submit a joint status report to the SC during the upcoming hearing, a step that could prove decisive in unlocking the next phase of implementation.
India Gazette
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Punjab CM moots idea of YSL canal instead of Satluj-Yamuna Link project for amicable resolution
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Stressing that Punjab needs more water to cater to its irrigation needs, as most of the state's river resources have dried up, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday sought a share for the state in Indus waters and mooted the idea of Yamuna-Satluj Link (YSL) canal instead of Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project. Mann said that the situation was so dire that Punjab had only scant water, which it was providing to food growers, adding that in such a scenario, there was no question of sharing even a drop of water with any other state. Participating in a meeting held here at Shram Shakti Bhawan, the Punjab CM reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state and there was no question of sharing even a single drop of water with anyone. According to a release, he stated that Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state and that a reassessment of water availability in the state is required in accordance with international norms. Mann stated that most of the state's blocks are overexploited, and the groundwater situation in the state is dire. Meanwhile, he again proposed that the Indus Waters Treaty should be reconsidered, and efforts should be made to bring water from the Western Rivers to India to meet the growing water demand. The Chief Minister said that the opportunity of the Indus Water Treaty Suspension must be duly utilised to fulfil the water needs of the state. He said that the recent decision by the Government of India to suspend the Indus Water Treaty opens up the possibility of greater utilisation of water from the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) within Indian territory. Mann said that Punjab, which is currently facing groundwater depletion, must be prioritised in any future strategies for the usage, diversion, or allocation of river waters. The Chief Minister stated that the waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis, and new storage dams should be constructed upstream of the existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh. He said that this will significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters. Mann said that it is the need of the hour so that Punjab, which has overexploited its only available natural resources in terms of water and fertile land, is duly compensated, thereby making the country self-reliant in food production. The Chief Minister stated that the long-conceived Sharda-Yamuna Link project needs to be taken up as a priority, and surplus water be transferred to the River Yamuna at a suitable location. He said that the additional water available could offset the balance water requirement of Haryana from the Ravi-Beas system, apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of the capital city of Delhi and the availability of the Yamuna water to the state of Rajasthan. CM Mann said that under the aforesaid eventuality, again, the issue of the construction of the SYL canal could be shelved and put to rest forever. The Chief Minister stated that to cater to Haryana's demands, the Sharda-Yamuna link should be constructed to transfer surplus Sharda water to the Yamuna River, and Chenab water can be diverted to the River Beas through the Rohtang tunnel, thereby eliminating the need for the SYL canal. He said that proceedings with respect to the SYL matter of 1996 may be kept in abeyance till the decision of the Ravi-Beas tribunal is awarded. Mann said that the MoU of May 12, 1994, on the allocation of Yamuna waters between Delhi, UP, HP and Rajasthan is going to be reviewed after 2025. Mann demanded that Punjab be included as a partner state in Yamuna water allocations, and that 60 per cent of the surplus Yamuna waters be considered for the State of Punjab when apportioning the Yamuna waters. The Punjab CM said that instead of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the project should now be reconceived as the Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL), as the Satluj River has already dried up and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water from it. Rather, Mann said that water from the Ganga and Yamuna should be supplied to Punjab through the Satluj river. The Chief Minister stated that the SYL canal is an 'emotive issue' and that Punjab will face serious law and order problems, which will escalate into a national issue, with Haryana and Rajasthan also being affected. He categorically stated that Land for the SYL canal is not available as of today, adding that out of 34.34 MAF of water from the three rivers, Punjab was allocated only 14.22 MAF, which is 40 per cent. Mann said that the remaining 60 per cent was allocated to Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan, even though none of these rivers actually flow through these states. The Chief Minister said that agreements and decisions of tribunals should be reviewed in light of changed circumstances and environmental developments, as international norms mandate a review every 25 years. He stated that Punjab's claim to a share of Yamuna water is similar to Haryana's share of Ravi-Beas waters, as the Irrigation Commission Report, Government of India, 1972, held that Punjab is a riparian state to the Yamuna River. Bhagwant Mann lamented that the Government of India is of the view that the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, is silent about the Yamuna Waters, as these waters were not considered shareable between Punjab and Haryana. This comes after Mann held a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini here. (ANI)
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Seeks Share In Indus Waters
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has made a compelling case for Punjab's rightful share in the Indus waters, while asserting that the state has no surplus water to offer to any other state. Participating in a meeting at Shram Shakti Bhawan in Delhi, the Chief Minister reiterated that Punjab's groundwater has been critically over-exploited, with 75% of its blocks declared overdrawn, and called for a comprehensive reassessment of the water availability in line with international norms. Mr Mann strongly opposed the construction of the contentious Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and instead proposed an alternative - the Yamuna-Satluj Link (YSL) - which he said would better serve the needs of water-deficient regions without burdening Punjab. He suggested that water from the Yamuna and Ganga should be diverted to Punjab, as the Satluj river has already dried up and cannot support any water-sharing commitments. Highlighting Punjab's critical role in national food security, Mr Mann emphasised that the state has made extraordinary contributions, supplying nearly 47% of wheat and 24% of rice to the national pool in 2024. He stressed that this service to the nation must be compensated, especially as Punjab has exhausted its natural water and soil resources in the process. The Chief Minister also proposed that the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty by the Government of India should be used as an opportunity to utilise water from western rivers like the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. He advocated for constructing new dams upstream of Bhakra and Pong to better regulate and store water, ensuring Punjab receives priority in future river water allocations. Further, Mr Mann recommended reviving the long-pending Sharda-Yamuna Link project. He explained that surplus water from Sarda could be routed to Yamuna and used to meet the water requirements of Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. This, he said, could eliminate the need for the SYL canal and help avoid potential law and order issues in Punjab, where the SYL remains a deeply sensitive issue. Mr Mann also pointed out that while Punjab receives only 40% of the water from its rivers, the remaining 60% is allocated to non-riparian states like Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. He said Haryana already receives 5.95 Million Acre Feet (MAF) from Punjab's rivers, along with 4.65 MAF from the Yamuna and 1.62 MAF via the proposed Sharda-Yamuna Link. With Punjab facing flood-related damages annually, the Chief Minister urged that the state should be compensated by partner states. He also called for a review of all past agreements and tribunal decisions every 25 years as per international environmental norms. Finally, he demanded Punjab's inclusion in Yamuna water-sharing agreements post-2025 and emphasised that the YSL canal is a more sustainable and logical solution to North India's water crisis.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP politicising Operation Sindoor for electoral gain, alleges Kumari Selja; Congress MP slams BJP for silence on leaders' insulting women
Hisar: Congress general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting Operation Sindoor for political gain instead of uniting the nation in the fight against terrorism. A ddressing the media in Hisar on Friday, she praised the Army's courage but criticised the BJP-led central govt for what she described as its failure to uphold democratic values. "The Army has made the nation proud consistently with its bravery," Selja said. "But rather than recognising this nationally, the BJP is using the counter-terrorism operation after the Pahalgam attack to serve its own political agenda. " She said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had made it clear that the party stood with the govt in combating terrorism, yet the BJP refused to acknowledge bipartisan support or uphold Parliamentary decorum. Selja also condemned the governing party's silence on what she called "repeated instances of disrespect" towards women by senior BJP members. "Insulting women's dignity cannot be brushed aside. The BJP must act decisively rather than protect those responsible," she said. Turning to regional issues, Selja demanded quick action on the long-standing Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute, urging Punjab to release Haryana's rightful share of water. She accused both the central and Haryana govts of inaction. "The Haryana govt is only making statements. On the ground, nothing is being done," she claimed, adding that a breakdown in coordination between the administration and the BJP govt had left citizens to "run from pillar to post" for basic services. Several senior Congress figures, including former Haryana Public Service Commission member Jagannath, ex-judicial tax tribunal member Harpal Boora, advocate Lal Bahadur Khowal, and Krishna Satrod attended the press briefing. MSID:: 121536343 413 |
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab minister criticizes Sukhbir Badal over land pooling scheme and past governance.
Ludhiana: Punjab minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh launched a blistering attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday, accusing the former deputy chief minister of corruption, arrogance, and misleading the public over the Bhagwant Mann govt's land-pooling scheme. Speaking to reporters in the Ludhiana West constituency, Sondh dismissed Badal's recent remarks as "baseless" and claimed they revealed the Akali leader's "political and financial desperation." "Sukhbir Badal is not fighting for farmers," Sondh said. "He's defending his own interests and the land mafia nexus he built during his time in power. Every Punjabi knows that illegal construction in the state flourished under the Badal family's watch. " The minister said the Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt's land-pooling scheme posed no threat to farmers. Participation in the scheme, he said, is entirely voluntary and designed to increase land value by developing roads, lighting, sanitation, and other infrastructure. "Farmers who choose to participate will receive 1,000 square yards of residential and 200 square yards of commercial land per acre — a return that will multiply in value fivefold within a few years," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Zumbido e perda de audição? Médico revela técnica caseira de 1 real para aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo Sondh accused Badal of fearmongering and double standards. "The man who now claims to support farmers had earlier backed the Centre's three black farm laws. He only reversed his stance under public pressure," he said, adding that Sukhbir's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, failed to deliver any meaningful development during her tenure as Union food processing minister. The minister also targeted the SAD chief over the contentious Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, accusing him of compromising Punjab's interests for "personal economic gain." He criticised Badal for "disregarding" the authority of Akal Takht Sahib and treating Sikh institutions as "political tools." "Sukhbir Badal has no moral authority to speak on Punjab's issues," Sondh said. "His legacy is one of crime, corruption, and collusion with land mafias — not of service to the people. " The Mann govt, he added, was committed to cleaning up Punjab's politics and eliminating drugs, corruption, and land-related exploitation. MSID:: 121469159 413 |
