Punjab farmers show black flags to Central team visiting SYL

The Central team visiting 'encroached' areas of controversial Sutlej Yamuna (SYL) canal in this district of Punjab was today shown black flags by farmers who also shouted slogans of 'Go back-Go back'.
The team headed by Dalip Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, visited Inderpura village near here where farmers had leveled parts of SYL Canal, officials said.
Kahan Singh Pannu, Punjab, Irrigation secretary, also accompanied the team.
The farmers at many places in Rupnagar and Patiala districts have filled the canal with earth after Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed a bill to de-notify the land acquired for SYL Canal, party sources said.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had announced that land would be returned to farmers free of cost.
The team led by Joint Secretary Home has filmed the SYL Canal stretch leveled by the farmers and now under encroachment, officials said.
The Supreme Court had granted status quo on the SYL Canal after Haryana Government approached it against the Punjab Government decision to denotify the land.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary has sought report from the deputy commissioners about encroachment on land by farmers.