New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated as an alternative of being at loggerheads with Punjab over the water sharing challenge, the matter might be solved by way of dialogue with the neighbouring state, information company ANI reported. His remarks got here after Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat held a gathering with CM Khattar and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann over the Sutlej Yamuna Hyperlink (SYL) canal challenge.
“Punjab has agreed that water is diverted in direction of Pakistan. We wish to say that as an alternative of diverting the water to Pakistan, it ought to be utilized by Punjab and Haryana. We will sit and resolve the matter,” CM Khattar informed ANI.
#WATCH | Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar says, “…Punjab has agreed that water is shipped in direction of Pakistan… We might say that as an alternative of diverting the water to Pakistan, the water ought to be utilized by Punjab and Haryana. We will sit and resolve this…” pic.twitter.com/FOHX60JZDU
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023
There was a longstanding dispute between Punjab and Haryana over the SYL canal development, just like the Cauvery water sharing challenge between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The dispute began when the canal was conceptualised for efficient sharing of water from Beas and Ravi rivers between Haryana and Punjab. The mission envisaged a 214-kilometre canal, of which a 122-kilometre stretch was to be constructed in Punjab and the remaining 92 kilometres in Haryana.
Haryana accomplished the mission in its territory. Nevertheless, Punjab, which launched the work in 1982, shelved it, claiming it doesn’t have surplus water to share with another state. Since then, the 2 states have engaged in a authorized battle over the problem.
Amid the dispute, the Supreme Court docket on October 4 had requested the Centre to survey the portion of land in Punjab which was allotted for the development of a part of the SYL canal and make an estimate of the extent of development carried on the market.
Although the Haryana authorities hailed the highest court docket’s choice, political events in Punjab asserted that the state doesn’t have surplus water to share.