CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the state did not have a single drop of water to spare from its rivers and the Shiromani Akali Dal will ensure no compromises are made on the rights of the state under the Riparian principle. In a statement, the CM said, “Punjab's stand on the subject has been consistent, clear and categorical. And there can be no compromise on the rights of Punjab as a Riparian state.”
“The SAD is ready to make every sacrifice on this sacred path. No price is too high in order to safeguard every drop of Punjab's waters as it is the life's blood of the state, especially its farmers.” Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said this week that his state was hoping the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue of Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal would be in favour of Haryana. He said the apex court had accepted the petition filed by the Haryana government for early hearing on the issue of the SYL Canal, for which Presidential reference was pending. Both the states have been locked up in a bitter war of words over the sharing of river waters.
Canal to link two major rivers in Punjab and Haryana has been waiting for a presidential reference for the past nearly 12 years to decide its fate. Foundation stone of the SYL canal was laid in April 1982 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The Congress government in Punjab had, in 2004, scrapped the water sharing agreements with neighbouring states and had refused to give any water to other states, especially Haryana. The presidential reference was sought after the Punjab assembly unilaterally passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act 2004, categorically stating that it was nullifying all agreements on water sharing and that no more water would be given to Haryana.
