Punjab Guv hopes early resolution of inter-state issues

Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today expressed hope that inter-state territorial and water issues of the state will be resolved soon even as Congress boycotted his address.
Shortly before the commencement of the Governor's address, Congress members led by Leader of Opposition, Sunil Jakhar staged a walkout, saying they were "boycotting" it.
A Congress spokesman said their protest was against the protection being given to Punjab Minister Bikram Majithia, who was allegedly paid Rs 35 lakhs as election funds by one of the accused in the synthetic drugs scam case.
While the Opposition benches remained empty, the governor addressed the House for about 50 minutes skipping a number of paragraphs out of a total of 247 paragraphs in his 55-page speech.

Speaking on the river waters' issue, Solanki, who is also the Governor of Haryana, said, "Punjab has been denied its right through a continued refusal to apply the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle."
"We are not against the interests of any of our neighboring states and are always willing to help with good neighborly gestures. But Punjab's inalienable right over river waters under the Riparian principle must be recognised and protected," he said.

Interestingly in his address to the Haryana Assembly on opening day of that state's Budget Session, Solanki had said the BJP government "is committed to ensure that Haryana gets its due share of water from all inter-state river agreements."

Solanki, as Haryana Governor had also said, "My government is actively taking all steps for expeditious completion of Satluj Yamuna Link Canal and linking of BML-Hansi Branch-Butana Branch Multipurpose link channel."
Speaking in Hindi in Punjab Assembly today he said, "Punjab, which is the food bowl of the country and meets 45% to 50% of its total food requirements, is facing an alarming problem of declining water table. This is because vast cultivable land in Punjab has to depend on tubewell irrigation.