Diversion of Chenab solution to SYL canal row, say Punjab, Haryana CMs

Punjab and Haryana governments on Tuesday appeared to agree that the diversion of the Chenab, a part of the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), was a solution to the vexed Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue.

The agreement is learnt to have been reached at a meeting of Punjab and Haryana CMs and officers. Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil chaired it to resolve the SYL matter.

Hearing in the SYL case before the Supreme Court is scheduled for August 13, with the Centre expected to make an important statement on the issue that day. The SC had asked the Jal Shakti Ministry to mediate between the states to reach a resolution.

After the meeting, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said the talks were “positive”. “Today, we have moved forward in a positive direction. We have built on the last meeting held on July 9,” they said.

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Both Punjab and Haryana chief ministers called Centre-backed talks ‘positive’, with hopes for progress on water-sharing

They welcomed PM’s remarks in Parliament on Indus Waters Treaty, aiming to utilise Chenab waters for regional sharing

Both CMs flagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks in Parliament about how the now-suspended IWT with Pakistan could benefit Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. “The PM made a positive statement in Parliament and we are hopeful that Chenab waters can be channelised to Punjab, which can build storage capacity and then share these waters with Haryana and other states. But right now Punjab has no water to spare,” Mann said.

He added that the diversion of the Chenab could bring 24 million acre feet (MAF) of water to Punjab whereas the state’s current dispute with Haryana barely involved two-three MAF of waters.

Mann also demanded that the SYL issue be shelved forever and Haryana’s water needs be met through the use of the Chenab waters under the now-suspended IWT and also through the revival of the long-pending Sharda-Yamuna link project. He said the Punjab Government would make all these proposals to the Centre and the SC in writing.

Meanwhile, another meeting between Punjab and Haryana is expected before the SC date on August 13.

In 2022, the Centre had received feasibility reports regarding the linking of the Sharda. This linking would cater to water needs of Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, UP and Gujarat.

At the meeting, Mann said, “The Sharda-Yamuna link for transfer of surplus Sharda waters to the Yamuna and diversion of the Chenab water to the Beas through Rohtang tunnel will eliminate the need for the SYL canal. Additional water available could offset the balance water requirement of Haryana from the Ravi-Beas system apart from addressing the ever-growing drinking water requirement of Delhi and availability of the Yamuna water to Rajasthan.