(SYL) Canal Stalemate Persists: Punjab CM affirms ‘No Water to Spare’; Hry insists on Canal Construction

Chandigarh, Dec 28, 2023 – The long-standing dispute over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal saw no resolution after a joint meeting between Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated the state’s stance of having “no surplus water” to share. Meanwhile, Haryana pressed for the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on SYL canal construction, urging Punjab not to conflate it with water allocation.

During the recent meeting addressing the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute, key points emerged shaping the discussion. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remained steadfast in asserting the state’s “no surplus water” stance. In contrast, Haryana pressed for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s SYL canal construction verdict, advocating for its completion. Despite a cordial atmosphere, the meeting concluded without reaching a mutual agreement. Haryana’s Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, proposed a wait-and-see approach, pending the Supreme Court’s decision. Punjab advocated for water from the Yamuna river in Haryana, presenting the Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) formula. Mann underscored Punjab’s water scarcity, pointing to groundwater depletion and insufficient availability, while Haryana emphasized the completion of the SYL canal to secure its entitled share of 3.5 MAF water. The meeting highlighted the ongoing challenges in resolving the longstanding SYL canal issue between the two states.

The SYL canal issue, conceptualized for water-sharing between Punjab and Haryana, has been a longstanding contention. Despite meetings and court orders, a resolution remains elusive, with both states maintaining their respective positions.