Congress leaders fill earth in the existing SYL canal, accusing the Punjab government of dragging its feet.
With election season setting in, political parties in Punjab have launched into a game of one-upmanship over the incomplete Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal that was built to carry surplus water under a water-sharing agreement to neighbouring Haryana. Every party wants to be seen as furthering the cause of Punjab's crisis-hit farmers who perceive any water flowing through the canal would be at their cost.
Though Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki is yet to give his assent to the bill passed by Punjab assembly last week -- to return to farmers the land acquired for building the canal - Congress leaders have launched a drive to fill up the canal with soil and make it cultivation ready.
Leader of the Opposition in the state, Charanjit Singh Channi accused the Parkash Singh Badal government of "playing politics" over the bill. The Congress, he said, will help farmers take control of their land and implement the law on its own. Later, a delegation of Congress legislators met Mr Solanki requesting him to give his assent to the bill.
More than three-fourths of the length of canal is ready and was built at a cost of Rs 700 crore - most of which was paid by the Haryana government. The Badal government is working on returning this money back to the Haryana government. Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema accused the Congress of acting in haste. He said, "The matter is under consideration of the governor, since it is a sensitive issue it will take time but he understands our sentiments."
The government has sent a cheque of Rs 191.75 crore to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. That is the amount spent by Haryana to acquire land for the canal in Punjab, which the bill passed last week says will go back to the farmers it was taken from.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal had said in Jalandhar yesterday that Punjab doesn't have enough water to share with Haryana. His party is eyeing big gains in next year's election.