Latest news with #SatlujYamunaLink
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SYL talks: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann floats Chenab plan to resolve water dispute
Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday urged the Centre to duly utilise water of the Chenab to resolve the long-pending water dispute between Punjab and Haryana by shelving the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) issue. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now After attending a meeting of Punjab and Haryana CMs called by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil over the SYL issue, Mann said that during the last meeting held on July 9, the Centre said that the with Pakistan had been suspended. This opens up a major opportunity for India to utilise water from the Chenab river, one of the western rivers earlier given to Pakistan under the treaty. Mann said the Centre should now divert Chenab's water to Indian dams like Ranjit Sagar, Pong, or Bhakra. To carry this extra water, new canals and infrastructure could be built in Punjab, he suggested. Mann said that such canals and infrastructure could be first used to meet the needs of Punjab, after which the water could be supplied to Haryana and Rajasthan through the same canal system. "Using Chenab water will reduce Punjab's dependence on groundwater, revive surface irrigation, and support the farming community. Waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis," he said, adding that new storage dams upstream of existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh should be constructed to significantly enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters. Batting for the shelving of the SYL canal issue, Mann said that the Sarda-Yamuna link for the transfer of surplus Sarda water to the Yamuna river and the diversion of Chenab water to the Beas river through the Rohtang tunnel should be done to eliminate the need for the SYL canal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to him, the long-conceived project of the Sharda-Yamuna Link should be taken up on priority basis, and surplus water should be transferred to the Yamuna river at a suitable location. He said that the additional water made available could offset the balance water requirement of the state of Haryana from the Ravi-Beas system, apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of Delhi and the availability of the Yamuna water to Rajasthan. Mann pointed out that the SYL canal was an "emotive issue" over which Punjab could have serious law and order issues, with Haryana and Rajasthan bearing the brunt too. SOME POSITIVE HEADWAY Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said discussions took place in a good atmosphere. "The Supreme Court had said that if this issue can be resolved through talks, meetings should be held. We hope that some steps could be taken forward. There is no fight between the people of Punjab and Haryana. The issue has been politicised. Both chief ministers and the Jal Shakti Minister held the meeting, and some positivity has emerged from the discussion. A path forward can be created, for which a meeting will be held before the 13th... I hope I was successful in presenting Punjab's perspective, and I hope the Centre will consider it," said Mann. TAKES POT SHOTS AT CENTRE Taking pot-shots at the Centre, CM Mann said he hoped that the decision on the Indus Water Treaty would not be reversed. "I hope that US President Donald Trump doesn't post something on X (formerly Twitter) saying, 'I have revived the Indus Water Treaty.' The treaty should stay suspended as it will help Punjab get more water. Punjab has to use it to grow good and give it to the country." He was speaking to media persons after the Centre's meeting on SYL.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Shelve SYL plan, use Chenab water to resolve Punjab-Haryana water-sharing issue: Mann
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann Tuesday sought shelving of the plan to construct Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL), and urged the Centre to duly utilise the water of Chenab river to resolve long-pending water dispute between the states of Punjab and Haryana. Taking part in deliberations during a meeting called by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil over the issue of SYL canal, the CM said that during the last meeting held on July 9, the Union Government had informed them that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan has been suspended, which opens up a major opportunity for India to utilise water from the Chenab river, one of the western rivers earlier given to Pakistan under the treaty. He said that the Centre should now divert Chenab's water to Indian dams like Ranjit Sagar, Pong, or Bhakra. 'To carry this extra water, new canals and infrastructure would be required which would be built in Punjab state. These canals and infrastructure can be first used to meet the needs of the state and after Punjab's requirements are met, the water can be supplied to Haryana and Rajasthan through the same canal system,' he said. According to a government statement, the CM said that using Chenab water will reduce Punjab's dependence on groundwater, revive surface irrigation and support the farming community, which is the backbone of Punjab's economy besides saving groundwater of the state for future generations. Punjab, which is currently facing groundwater depletion, must be prioritised in any future strategies for the usage, diversion, or allocation of these river waters. Mann pleaded that the waters of the western rivers should be allocated to Punjab on a priority basis, adding that new storage dams upstream of existing Bhakra and Pong Dams in Himachal Pradesh should be constructed, which will enhance the storage and regulation of western river waters. Batting for shelving of the SYL canal, the CM said that Sharda Yamuna Link (YSL) for transfer of surplus Sharda water to the Yamuna river and diversion of Chenab water to Beas river through Rohtang tunnel should be done to eliminate the need for the SYL canal. The long-conceived project of Sharda-Yamuna Link should be taken up on priority and surplus water be transferred to the Yamuna river at a suitable location. The additional water so available could offset the balance water requirement of the state of Haryana from the Ravi-Beas system apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of the capital city of Delhi and availability of the Yamuna water to the state of Rajasthan. Under the aforesaid eventuality, again the issue of construction of SYL canal could be shelved and put to rest forever. Batting for Yamuna Satluj Link (YSL) canal, he said that the MoU of May 12, 1994 of allocation of Yamuna waters between Delhi, UP, HP and Rajasthan is to be reviewed after 2025. 'Punjab should be included as partner state of Yamuna waters allocations and 60% waters of surplus Yamuna should be considered for the state while apportioning the Yamuna waters,' he said. Mann said that Haryana has enough scope to get additional waters from other sources which also needs to be accounted for. Haryana is also receiving 2.703 MAF (million acre feet) of Ghaggar river, Tangri Nadi, Markanda river, Saraswati Nadi, Chautang-Rakshi, Nai Nalah, Sahibi Nadi, Krishna Dhuan and Landoha Nalah which is unaccounted so far while deciding the allocations of water between the states. Mann reiterated that SYL canal is an 'emotive issue' and Punjab will have serious law and order issues and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also bearing the brunt. The CM said that land for SYL canal is not available as of today, adding that out of 34.34 MAF water of three rivers, Punjab was allocated only 14.22 MAF, which is 40%. The remaining 60% was allocated to Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, even though none of these rivers actually flows through these states. Due to reduction in surface waters, pressure is being put on groundwater. Out of 153 blocks in Punjab, 115 have been declared over-exploited (75%), whereas in Haryana 61% (88 out of 143) are over-exploited. Mann said that the number of tube wells in the state has increased from 6 lakhs in 1980's to 14.76 lakh in 2018 (this includes the tube well installed only for agriculture) showing an increase of more than 200% during the last 35 years. Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction (157%) in the entire nation, even higher than Rajasthan (150%), adding that Punjab ignores its own water requirement and gives about 60% water to meet the water requirements of non-riparian states in which Ravi-Beas and Sutlej Rivers do not pass. The CM said that Punjab made a major contribution of 124.26 lakh metric tonne of wheat during 2024, which is 47% of the total procured in India and also contributed 24% rice in the Central pool. Mann said that the total water requirement of Punjab is 52 MAF and water available with the state of Punjab is only 26.75 MAF (surface water from three rivers 12.46 MAF and groundwater 14.29 MAF). He said that the water of the Punjab rivers is shared among the partner states whereas the flood from these rivers caused damage only in Punjab putting the state of Punjab to a huge financial burden every year. As the benefits are shared in a certain ratio among the partner states, it is, therefore, imperative that the state of Punjab is appropriately compensated by the partner states regarding the damage and destruction caused by the floods on an annual basis. Mann said that agreements and decisions of tribunals should be reviewed in the light of changed circumstances and environmental developments, as international norms mandate a review every 25 years. Punjab seeking share of Yamuna water is similar to Haryana's share of Ravi Beas waters as Irrigation Commission Report, Government of India, 1972 held that Punjab is a riparian state. He lamented that the Centre is of the view that the Punjab Reorganisation Act-1966 is silent on Yamuna waters as these waters were not considered shareable between Punjab and Haryana whereas the Act is also silent on Ravi waters, adding that Punjab has already enacted 'Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004', terminating 1981 Agreement relating to surplus Ravi-Beas waters.
Hans India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Sukhbir writes to PM Modi, says river water issue not a dispute but 'loot' against Punjab
Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Sunday said the issue of water of Punjab's rivers 'is not a dispute but a case of brazen loot against the people of the patriotic border state'. The Akali chief 'cautioned the country that not removing the reasons of alienation of Punjabis can push us back towards the conditions that afflicted us all for over two decades. Justice is the best guarantee for peace and communal harmony in the country'. Badal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to end the reasons that have caused so much avoidable misery in the past. 'Removing the reasons of (Punjab's just grievances) and preventing the recurrence of the painful past needs to be a national priority. On the river waters issue, the only way to achieve that is to ensure justice to my state on exactly the principles applied in interstate disputes all over the country. Punjabis demand no favours: they only seek justice'. He slammed the Punjab Chief Minister, saying that his and his party's repeated promises to 'irrigate every field in Haryana and Rajasthan with Punjab's river waters' weaken Punjab's genuine case that it has not a single drop of water to spare. 'The Chief Minister is playing with fire with his duplicity, not realising the gravity of the issue. He must put an end to this double-speak,' Badal wrote. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal would not remain a mute witness to any discrimination against Punjab on this or any other issue. 'We will exercise our democratic right to peacefully ensure that no injustice is done to the state.' He said that already, Rajasthan and Haryana have always been 'illegal beneficiaries of Punjab's sole natural resource -- the river waters -- violating the Riparian principle, the only principle applied in national and international issues on river waters allocation. Neither Haryana nor Rajasthan is a Riparian state.' He regretted that Punjab had been treated shabbily even on the judicial front. 'The Supreme Court ordered Punjab to start the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, without even determining the availability of water in the rivers concerned. This would have been the first canal in the world to be constructed even without knowing if there is any water available to flow through it,' he said, adding then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal categorically refused to implement this order, saying he would rather go to jail than compromise on the just rights of Punjab. Badal then ordered the restoration of lands acquired for the SYL to their original owner farmers. Referring to the latest controversy on the release of water to Haryana, the Akali chief said Haryana has already used more than the full share of rivers, which too had been unfairly allocated to it as it has no right on those waters. Instead of being grateful to Punjab, it brazenly demands even more water, he added.
