Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal: Court Orders Survey of Land, All Panjab Parties Oppose Move but Bicker with Govt

On 4 Oct, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Panjab government for ignoring a 21-year-old direction to construct its side of the canal linking the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers and warned the ruling AAP to comply with its orders. The Court asked the Center to conduct a survey of the land meant for construction of the SYL. All the opposition parties in Panjab – SAD, BJP, INC, even some Left unions – have opposed the move. All are unanimously saying there is no water to spare. However, that is all they agree on, and they have started pointing fingers at each other. The SYL legacy is murky — the acquired land for the canal has been restored to farmers, but here is a chance for Panjab to unite on the basis of Riparian and Basin Rights. Haryana does not have these rights on the rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. Haryana claims Successor Rights but those do not apply. Instead of taking charge, bringing all parties together, Panjab CM Mann is now challenging opposition leaders for an open debate. Through the bonds formed between them during the Farmers’ Protest, the people of Panjab and Haryana know the politicians are attempting to divide them and do not consider this a big issue.