Meeting between Punjab and Haryana on SYL remains inconclusive

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 21

A joint meeting of officials of Punjab and Haryana governments led by their respective chief secretaries which was convened by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry on the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal imbroglio on Wednesday remained inconclusive with both sides remaining steadfast to their earlier stands.

Another round of a similar meeting of both the sides is expected to be convened by the ministry within a week.

“The meeting has been inconclusive. Both sides are engaged in talks on SYL,” said Union Jal Shakti Secretary UP Singh.

“The ministry’s role is limited to facilitate meetings between both the sides so that they could talk on resolving the issue as asked by the Supreme Court,” Singh added.

The Punjab legislature’s impugned termination of Agreement Act had junked all agreements to share the state’s river waters with other states.

With regard to apex court’s judgment, Punjab Government has taken the stand that the rivers in the state have shrunk and the state was not in a position to share waters as it had become water-deficit.

The two states have hardened their position following the judgment, resulting in the logjam.

The apex court has listed hearing in SYL issue on September 3 before which all sides will need to firm up their positions.