Punjab Assembly's decision 'unconstitutional': Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly to levy "cost and royalty" on water being supplied to the state as "unconstitutional".
"To charge non-riparian states like Haryana and Rajasthan is unconstitutional. It was in 2006 that the Punjab Assembly had acted in a similar manner, but the Supreme Court had rejected it," he said here.
Khattar claimed such actions of Punjab would not have any impact.
The Centre and the President would be urged to take action on whatever resolutions are passed by Punjab on Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, he assured.

The Chief Minister said the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue favouring Haryana is a "ray of hope" for farmers in the state.
"Many parts of Haryana would get water. There are areas where there is a scarcity of water during summer. Now they will have respite," he said, adding the agreement will be implemented.

Meanwhile, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister O P Dhankar termed the resolution "anti-national and a political drama".
"It has been introduced despite the recent decision of the Supreme Court favouring Haryana," he said.
"The question of payment for water does not arise. In fact, Punjab should compensate the farmers of Haryana for losses to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees incurred by them over the years," Dhankar said.

In a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in this regard on March 17, 2016, it had been mentioned that farmers in Haryana faced estimated losses of Rs 30,000 crore every year and his government should compensate, he said.
"The Punjab government should respect the Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Court," Dhankar said, adding Haryana has incurred about Rs 20 crore as legal fee in pursuing the case.