SYL row: Khattar returns Badal’s cheque, conveys displeasure

“Punjab DGP, chief secretary and home secretary as well as union home secretary will be personally responsible for any breach of the SYL canal in Punjab,” Khattar said.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal arrives at the Vidhan Sabha, Thursday. Kamleshwar Singh

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while announcing the Supreme Court’s order directing Punjab to maintain status quo on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, told the Haryana Assembly that he had returned Punjab’s cheque for around Rs 191 crore in lieu of all the funds it received for the project.

“The Supreme Court has declared the canal as a case property. Punjab DGP, chief secretary and home secretary as well as union home secretary will be personally responsible for any breach of the SYL canal in Punjab,” Khattar said.

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He added that he had returned Punjab government’s cheque Thursday. Khattar also wrote to Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal expressing his displeasure on Punjab government’s move to pass the Bill regarding de-notifying the land meant for the canal in the Vidhan Sabha.

“I even spoke with him (Badal) over the phone and conveyed my displeasure,” he added. “The Bill concerning SYL canal has not yet been signed by the Governor. We are constantly in touch with the Centre over the issue. I have spoken to Prime Minister. Our MPs too met him. Punjab’s move is unconstitutional. I have requested Punjab Governor Prof Kaptan Singh Solanki not to sign the Bill.”

Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu also took a dig at the Punjab CM. “The Punjab government has sent a cheque returning Haryana’s funds, but they should keep in mind that the Bill has yet not received the Governor’s assent”.

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