The Supreme Court has directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to cooperate with the Centre for an amicable solution to the decades-old dispute over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said it was an “act of high-handedness” that land which was already acquired for the construction of the canal was de-notified in Punjab.
The apex court pointed out that such matters couldn’t be decided only on the basis of law and ground realities couldn’t be ignored as other factors, having wider ramifications, had to be considered.
Referring to a recent affidavit filed by the Centre, the bench said it appeared the Centre already took effective steps to resolve the issue amicably.
“In that view of the matter, we direct both the states to cooperate with the Union of India in arriving at an amicable solution. In case the issue is not resolved amicably between the parties, we propose to take up the matter on August 13,” the bench said.
Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said pursuant to the top court’s direction, the government tried to mediate between the parties with meetings being held. “We have made efforts for mediation but the states have to walk the talk,” Bhati said.
The SYL canal was conceptualised for the effective allocation of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers. The project envisaged a 214-kilometer canal, of which 122 kilometer was to be constructed in Punjab and 92 kilometer in Haryana.
Haryana completed the project in its territory, but Punjab, which launched the construction work in 1982, shelved it later.
