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Synopsis

A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Vikram Nath while hearing a matter on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) between Haryana and Punjab, asked the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to call a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the respective States. The Court ordered for the age-old matter to be settled amicably.  Further, a report on the progress made on the issue was also sought for. The Bench pushed the matter for next year, January. 

The Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, in very clear categorical terms opined, “Water is a natural resource and living beings must learn to share it, whether it be individuals, States or countries… There is a shortage. But if you look at it only from the point of view of the State, then somebody will look at it from the point of view of the city… Then what will happen? I know there are sensitive issues in the State (Punjab), but some calls have to be taken. In the larger interest of the country, you have to sit down and work it out. It cannot be left as a festering wound. Water is a natural wealth to be shared. How it has to be shared is a mechanism to be worked out. We expect parties to work out a way to share the national wealth”.

The canal under dispute, pertains to an almost age-old rivalry of 1966 between the two States, right after the  reorganisation. The canal will enable sharing of the waters of the rivers, Beas and Ravi between the State of Haryana and Punjab. Haryana in its defence says, that it has an accute shortage of drinking water, and issue water for irrigation would also double if the matter is not resolved. 

While according to Punjab, the State may go dry after 2029, since it has already over-exploited its groundwater because of wheat and paddy.  

 

Source: The Hindu