Selja asks Haryana govt to move SC for SYL Canal water

Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja on Saturday asked the state government to immediately move the Supreme Court and help bring SYL water to the state and demanded that the central government explain its position on the matter.

Her statement comes a day after all parties in Punjab unanimously resolved not to give SYL water to Haryana.

Selja said Haryana has the right on the water of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal and it has been validated by the Supreme Court.

"The decision of political parties of Punjab regarding not to provide water to Haryana is a clear violation of the Supreme Court orders," she told reporters.

"The Haryana government should immediately move to the Supreme Court on this issue and bring SYL water to the state and the central government should also explain its position in this matter. It was the responsibility of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to get Haryana its rightful share of water, but why the central government is silent," she asked.

Selja said the Supreme Court had asked the central government to distribute the water of the SYL Canal between Punjab and Haryana, they why the Centre is not taking any steps for it.

"After all this, why did not the State Government pressurize the Central Government to get SYL water? Haryana Government should clarify what concerted efforts it has taken in this matter during the last three years," she said.

Selja claimed that the state Congress and people have struggled a lot in the courts on the issue of SYL. "We will not back down in claiming our constitutional rights. We have to turn this dream of all people into reality. We are determined to claim our right and we will fight for the interest of people with full force," she said.

The Haryana Congress chief said Haryana was given its share of water in the first place by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1976 by starting the Indira Gandhi Award.

In 1981, the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan signed an agreement to build SYL Canal in the presence of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1982, Gandhi started the construction of canal in village Kapuri of Patiala, she noted.

The historic Rajiv Longowal Accord was signed in 1985, under which the Iradi Commission was constituted and at that time the Congress Government had advocated for Haryana in front of the Commission, which gave right of 3.83 million feet of water to Haryana, she said.

"The Supreme Court's decision of the year 2002 and 2004 on SYL in favour of Haryana came into force. Even after this, when Haryana did not get its rightful share of water then in the year 2016, the Supreme Court took a historic decision and gave a clear order to the central government to construct the SYL canal," she said.

In 2019, with the Supreme Court directions to both states to resolve the matter by forming committees of their officials, it was clarified that if both the states do not construct the canal with mutual consent, the Supreme Court will itself get the canal constructed, she claimed.

"Today Haryana is craving for water and farmers of the state are in dire need of water. Haryana has right on the SYL water and the state will take it because the Supreme Court has given judgement many times in favour of Haryana," she said.

Selja claimed that Haryana Congress will play a leading role in this struggle and for the implementation of decision of the Supreme Court. "Non-compliance of orders is a clear violation of the Supreme Court," she said.