Khattar writes to Badal on SYL canal

In the wake of Supreme Court direction for maintenance of status quo on land meant for Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar hoped that "status quo ante as it existed on March 14, 2016 has been restored in respect of the Punjab portion of the SYL canal."
"I hope that you will put an end to the free run of the hoodlums who have felled thousands of trees, destroyed wildlife, flattened structures and filled up the SYL Canal," Khattar said in a letter to his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal, which was released to the media here tonight.

Khattar said, "I suggest that strict action be initiated against the officers and officials who were mute spectators and silent collaborators in this brazen display of utter lawlessness."
"I will be delighted to receive a communication that status quo ante has it existed on March 14, 2016 has been restored in respect of the Punjab portion of the lifeline of Haryana viz., the SYL canal," Khattar said in his two page letter sent to Badal today.
He told Badal, "Upon a reference by us, the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India has appointed your Chief Secretary and Director General of Police as Court Receivers of the all lands, works and property in the Punjab portion of the SYL. It has also directed them to maintain status quo with regard to these."

Khattar had earlier returned the cheque for Rs 191.75 crore "in original" which Punjab had sent yesterday for Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal saying "hope that good sense will prevail and the people of Haryana will be given their due and legitimate share in the Ravi Beas waters through the SYL canal at the earliest."

The letter said, "further for over three decades now the SYL has been a Central Project for which the Government of India has already reimbursed to both the states money spent in Punjab portion of the SYL. On this score alone the drawing out of any money from the Consolidated Fund of Punjab for payment to us is a gross irregularity."

"I was in the middle of a meeting in my office when
the envelope containing your letter was delivered to me at around 7:30 pm last evening. I briefly halted the ongoing proceedings to open the envelope.
"I was hoping it to be carrying your gracious acceptance of the telephonic request I had made to you earlier in the day that the Government of Punjab should pro-actively stop the completely unlawful acts of filling up of the SYL canal in Punjab territory that had begun after the passage of the Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill despite it not having received the assent of the Governor of Punjab," Khattar said.

"But going through its content, I could not help wondering at its brutal brevity, total thoughtlessness and complete disregard of canons of financial propriety."
"Your two line letter on a matter that has serious importance on the lives of millions of Haryanvi's merely discloses a certain decision of your Council of Ministers and your consequent act of enclosing a cheque," he said.
The letter further said, "It does not disclose what exactly was the issue that your Council of Ministers was considering, what information was made available to it or was called by it from the State's bureaucracy or what options were considered and weighed by the Council before the decision was arrived at. It does not even disclose the date of the meeting of the Council of Ministers."

Khattar said, "Let me apprise you such a decision could not have been taken in pursuance of the said Bill till it is enacted. And even if it gets enacted someday, since it was not a Money Bill not even a penny could be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of Punjab in its pursuance."
The Punjab Cabinet had on Tuesday decided to dispatch a cheque for Rs 191.75 crore back to Haryana which had sent it towards construction of the SYL canal. The cheque was dispatched yesterday.
Punjab Assembly had on Monday passed the Punjab Satluj Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Bill, 2016, which aims to de-notify the land acquired for construction of SYL canal, a lingering dispute between the two neighbouring states.