Resolution On Sutlej Yamuna Link Water Royalty Moved In Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh: A resolution seeking the nod of the Punjab government to take up the matter for levying royalty on water being supplied to Haryana and Rajasthan with the Centre was moved in the state Assembly today.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal of the BJP moved the resolution, seconded by Nirmal Singh of Shiromani Akali Dal.

 "Royalty is our legal and well-established right," Mr Mittal said during the special session of the Punjab Assembly convened to discuss the state's water woes.

Mr Mittal moved the resolution seeking the Assembly's recommendation to take up with the Centre the matter for levying royalty on water being supplied to non-riparian states of Haryana and Rajasthan.

Congress lawmakers were absent from the House as they has resigned from the Assembly last week.

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The special session of the Assembly has been convened in the wake of the Supreme Court holding as "unconstitutional" the 2004 law passed by the Punjab government to terminate the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.

After the Supreme Court verdict last Thursday, 42 Congress lawmakers had resigned from the Vidhan Sabha.

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had appealed to all political parties to get together on the SYL issue.

However, his son and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Congress was running away from it.

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The Punjab cabinet had yesterday announced that it will denotify the land acquired for the project and return it to "original land owners" at no cost.