The over six decade old water dispute between the northern states of India today assumed a new dimension.
In a new order, the Supreme Court of India has held Punjab’s decision to terminate the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.
“Punjab has no right to unilaterally terminate water-sharing agreements over the SYL Canal with neighbouring states” Supreme Court of India.
As a protest over the order, all 46 Congress Party MLA's have resigned from their constituencies. Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh have also quit as an MP from the Lok Sabha.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a press release said that the state Government is firm on its stand and "not a drop of water" will be allowed to be taken out of the state.Meanwhile, Aam Admy Party has accused both the ruling SAD and opposition Congress of failing to protect the state's interest and announced an indefinite dharna at Kapoori, where the foundation stone for the SYL canal was laid, from tomorrow.Punjab’s neighbouring state Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has urged the political parties to respect the Supreme court's order. Haryana hopes to gain from this Supreme Court ruling.On the SYL issue, Punjab government has always made its stand clear that "justice" should be done as per the recognized international riparian laws.
Interestingly, except Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, none of the states which are party to the unsolved issue is a riparian state. The other non-riparian states are Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
