SC asks Centre to finish work on SYL

Repair a difficult affair

Right from Kapuri village near Rajpura, where former PM Indira Gandhi launched the digging operations in 1982, to the meandering 116 km up to Nangal pond, the entire SYL canal desperately cries for repair. Ever since chief engineer M.L. Sekhri and his associates, involved in the construction were shot dead by militants in Chandigarh in 1990, the work on the project has come to a standstill. The canal is now covered with dense vegetation and, at places, Kikar trees have grown as high as 15 ft. ‘‘Repairing the canal would be more difficult than constructing a new one,’’ says G.S. Dhillon, a former chief engineer.

No snag, SC directs

The apex court has asked the Centre to constitute within four weeks a high-powered committee, which would include representatives from the states of Haryana and Punjab, to supervise the construction work. The court has said the committee should also take steps to protect the green areas through which the canal passes.

Punjab to file review plea

Punjab government has said it would file a review petition next week against the SC order. ‘‘After consulting my team and our lawyers, we will take a legal recourse in terms of filing a review petition next Tuesday,’’ said Punjab Advocate-General Harbhagwan Singh. He contended that so far no arguments have taken place on 17-18 objections filed by the state in this case.

SAD blames govt, UPA

Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) blamed the Amarinder government for the apex court’s decision and said the party was committed not to allow the construction of the SYL. SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal said the state ‘‘lost its case due to the mistake of the present Punjab government and partisan attitude of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre towards Punjab’’.

Capt calls special meeting

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has convened a special meeting of the Cabinet on June 7 to discuss the situation arising out of the SC order on SYL canal. The Cabinet will consider the legal options as well as all political and administrative steps required to protect and safeguard the interests of the state, in particular the farming community.

Misnomer

The term SYL is a misnomer since Sutlej waters have been distributed, Ravi waters are not a point of contention, and it’s the Beas waters which are in dispute.