Court's Water Sharing Order Brings Smiles In Haryana, Frowns To Punjab

Ambala: Farmers in Haryana's Ambala recall the moment former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had come to lay the foundation stone of the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal, barely 12 km away. Now, almost 35 years later, they are hoping the Supreme Court order criticising Punjab government's refusal to share water with Haryana will finally pour some relief into their lives.

At Kalera village, Balkar Singh, 55, and 36-year-old Jarnail Singh are farmers who consider themselves privileged. Close to the Punjab border, they are among the few in the 2000-strong village to have borewells in their fields.

But even so, irrigation continues to be a nightmare on their 8 acre fields.

"Other farmers have to pay Rs 40 by the hour to take water from another farmer's borewell," said Jarnail Singh. "At least we save money that way. But I barely get to earn a little over Rs 3 lakh a year, while my yearly costs are above Rs 5 lakh."

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Farming is the dominant occupation in Kalera village. But most farmers cultivate rice, wheat or zeera crops, and can only do so 6-month cycles.

"We cannot grow vegetables, which are more profitable through the year, because that would require more water. Sometimes, the water is not enough to even grow rice," Balkar Singh said.

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The key 120-km stretch of Sutlej Yamuna link canal, which draws water from Sutlej, Ravi and Beas, runs through the villlage. The 90-km stretch on the Haryana side is complete. And now with the apex court order in favour of Haryana, they hope they will finally get a consistent supply of free water.

Ten kilometres away, in Punjab's Patiala district, the mood is sombre.

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Sarala village is barely 2 km from Kapoori, where Mrs Gandhi had laid the canal's foundation stone on the Punjab side.

Farmers say they have just heard of the order and think the Supreme Court won't be unfair. Their apprehension is more of the politics that will play out after this decision.

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"We want that we should get our share and Haryana should get theirs. Then we have no complaints," said 60-year-old Jarnail Singh, whose 5-acre-field is watered by a local canal. "We don't want political parties to use this and mislead us. Yesterday, members of the Aam Aadmi Party came to ask us about our views and whether we are looking to protest. Today Congress leaders are resigning. Ahead of elections, this is now being used to score political points."

Though there's no tension on the ground, there have been several quick political developments in Punjab over the issue on Thursday, with the cabinet passing a resolution in the evening to not share water from the state and calling a special session of assembly on November 16.