Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Punjab Vidhan Sabha resolution on SYL 'unconstitutional'

CHANDIGARH, Nov 16-
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal today took strong exception to the resolution passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here today to charge cost of water supplied to non-riparian States that is Haryana and Rajasthan and described it as unconstitutional.
          The Chief Minister, who was interacting with media persons in Rohtak today, was asked to comment on the resolution passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today.
          He said that it was in the year 2006 that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had acted in a similar manner, but the Supreme Court had rejected that. Therefore, such actions of Punjab would not make any impact.
          Mr Manohar Lal said that whatever the resolutions are passed by Punjab on the issue of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, the Central Government as well as the President of India would be urged to take action on the issues concerning Haryana. He said that such resolutions would not affect Haryana.
          The Chief Minister said that the decision of the Supreme Court on the issue of SYL favouring Haryana has shown a ray of hope to the farmers of the State. Many parts of Haryana would get water. There are areas in the State where there is scarcity of water during summer and now those areas would not face such problem.
          The Chief Minister made it clear that he has no doubt in the implementation of this agreement.
 Meanwhile,  Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. O.P. Dhankar today termed as anti-national and a political drama, the introduction of Bill in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha get payment from Haryana for supply of water through Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal from 1966 onwards. This Bill has been introduced despite the recent decision of the Supreme Court favouring Haryana, he added.
        The Minister said that Haryana was carved out of   Punjab as a result of division between two brothers. The question of payment for water does not arise. In fact, Punjab should compensate the farmers of Haryana for losses to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees incurred by them every year. He said that in a letter written to Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, in this regard on March 17, 2016, it had been mentioned that farmers in Haryana faced estimated losses of Rs 30,000 crore every year, which should be compensated by Punjab.
        Mr. Dhankar said that Punjab Government should respect the Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Court.   Haryana has incurred   about Rs 20 crore as legal fee  in this case, he added.

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