3 months ago
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The gathering betwixt the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana connected the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the centre of a decades-long water-sharing quality betwixt the 2 States, ended without solution connected Tuesday (January 27, 2026), adjacent arsenic some neighbours agreed to proceed discussions connected the delicate issue.
After the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann jointly addressed the media, stating that the gathering was held successful a precise affirmative and cordial atmosphere.
Mr. Saini said that, with communal consent, some States had decided to clasp meetings astatine the level of irrigation section officers for further elaborate discussions connected issues related to the SYL, truthful that applicable and lasting solutions could beryllium worked out. “The meetings are being held continuously successful accordance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and today’s gathering was besides organised successful that spirit,” helium said.
Mr. Mann said, “We person nary h2o to stock with immoderate different state, but arsenic the elder member of Haryana, we bash not privation to gully daggers with our neighbouring authorities and question aboriginal solution of this long-pending issue.”
He said, “Punjab is the elder brother, and some states are present to find an amicable solution to this arguable issue,” adding that “both the Supreme Court and the Government of India privation a mutually accepted solution, and it is simply a bully happening that some states person joined hands to resoluteness the contented and extremity confrontation.”
Mr. Mann, however, added, “Punjab has nary surplus h2o to stock with immoderate different state. Not adjacent a azygous driblet of Punjab’s rightful h2o tin beryllium allowed to beryllium taken away. The SYL canal is an emotive contented and the State volition look superior instrumentality and bid problems if it is imposed. Land for the SYL canal is not disposable successful Punjab arsenic of today.”
The SYL canal, the instauration for which was laid successful 1982, was intended to nexus the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers successful Punjab and Haryana. However, the task ne'er took off, arsenic h2o sharing became a delicate contented successful the 1990s. During this period, amid the emergence of terrorism, officials and workers progressive successful the operation of the SYL canal were targeted successful a bid to halt the project.
