SYL: Haryana CM claims ‘elder brother’ Punjab will share water

AMRITSAR: Striking an emotional chord during his Amritsar visit on Friday, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini described Punjab and Haryana as brothers and said Punjab as the “elder brother” will definitely give water to its thirsty “younger brother” Haryana.
After paying obeisance at the Golden Temple here on Friday, CM Saini urged Punjab to end the decades-long dispute between the two states over sharing water of the Beas and Ravi rivers via the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
According to the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, and as per the Government of India’s order dated March 24, 1976, Haryana was allocated 3.5 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the surplus waters of the Ravi-Beas rivers. However, the Punjab government in 2004 used the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act to annul the 1981 tripartite agreement among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and all other water-sharing pacts. The Supreme Court in 2016 declared the 2002 Punjab law unconstitutional, and directed Punjab to share the waters of Ravi-Beas with Haryana, HP, Rajasthan, J&K, and Delhi. The matter is still stuck with no progress on the issue till now.
“Haryana is not separate from Punjab. We are one, but circumstances change. Earlier, the province was large and the pace of development could not be sustained. That’s why Haryana was separated from Punjab. We are the younger brother of Punjab. We continue to appeal and it is the duty of the elder brother to provide water to the younger brother,” said Saini and added that Haryana could only appeal to its ‘elder brother.’
He said the vast land of Haryana is waiting for water and added that it was his strong belief that the leaders of Punjab wouldn’t disappoint the ‘younger brother’. “This is one home, not two. The elder brother will definitely give, we have full confidence,” said Saini.
Commenting on Delhi’s demand of water from Haryana, Saini maintained that his state was releasing water to the capital city over and above the agreed-upon quantity. Saini had then said that there is also an AAP government in Punjab and suggested that the Delhi govt should ask Punjab to give Haryana its share of SYL canal water so that Haryana’s water shortage can be overcome and Delhi can also get more water.
The Haryana CM, who had langar and offered sewa by washing utensils at the Golden Temple, also visited Radha Soami Satsang in Beas and met the sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon. “Met Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon Ji, the spiritual head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. Under his able leadership, RSSB has been at the forefront of many community service efforts. On this occasion, received guidance from Baba Gurinder Ji on various spiritual and social issues,” Saini posted on X after the meeting.
Saini also visited the Ram Tirth temple dedicated to Lord Valmiki near Attari-Wagah Border. “Lord Valmiki ji's contribution to Indian culture and society is incomparable. We pray that all our family members in Haryana may receive your blessings,” he posted.