No fresh talks with Punjab on SYL: Haryana

The Haryana government on Monday said that it will not enter into any fresh dialogue with Punjab on the contentious SYL Canal issue despite the Supreme Court giving two months to the central government earlier this year to work out a solution between the two states.

Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister O.P. Dhankar made it clear that there will be no agreement with the Punjab government on the state's share in river waters.

"There will be no digression from our chosen path of securing implementation of the Supreme Court orders regarding construction of the SYL (Sutlej Yamuna Link) Canal in Punjab, and bringing to Haryana its rightful share in river waters," he said.

Dhankar said it was due to the efforts of the present Haryana government that after 11 years, hearing on the Presidential reference was resumed by the Supreme Court on February 29, 2016, and concluded on May 12 the same year.

On the Presidential reference, the apex court gave a judgment in favour of Haryana on November 10, 2016, he said.

"After this decision, Punjab's Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 is rendered invalid. Now the passage for getting Haryana its just and rightful share in Ravi and Beas waters is clear through the medium of SYL," Dhankar said.

Haryana is seeking more water from Punjab to cater to the water demand of southern Haryana. Both states have been locked in a bitter political and legal battle on the SYL Canal construction issue for the past nearly three decades.

--IANS

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