Opinion Much water has flowed

Haryana has countered that,rather,it should be paid by Punjab for the non-supply of its due share of water which was to flow through the SYL and which instead Punjab had been using for years. Himachal Pradesh has questioned Punjab’s claim of ownership of water resources — as all the major rivers originate from Himachal.

But while few who take Badal’s claim seriously,the issue has the potential of stirring up passions and a fringe is always ready to lap up the opportunities such issues provide. In fact,debate rages in Punjab on what could have provoked Badal at this juncture. One possibility: the countdown has begun for assembly elections due in a year-and-a-half,and there is a tendency in Punjab to rake up such issues for gaining political mileage. The other provocation could be the expected judgment of the Supreme Court later this month on the controversial legislation by the previous regime in the state terminating all previous water agreements.

The Supreme Court had in 2002 directed Punjab to complete the SYL within a year,warning that,in case it failed,the Central government would be empowered to construct the disputed canal. Evidently in reaction to this judgment,the then Congress government led by Amarinder Singh,brought about legislation terminating all previous agreements on water sharing. It was not just the Akalis,who had little choice but to support the bill,who were taken aback; the Congress-led Central government,too,was not taken into confidence. The Punjab Termination of Water Agreements Act,2004 was challenged in the apex court by the Haryana government; any adverse judgment against Punjab may lead the Akalis into deep trouble from the Congress for “not being able to defend the state’s case.”

However,though the water-sharing issue still has the potential to ignite passions among those seeking political space,recent trends show that the common man is getting disenchanted or at least losing interest in the issue. Thus,the Congress did not reap benefits in the elections after the act was passed. In fact,it lost seats in areas which could have been directly affected,but gained in Malwa,which gained little from the move. Significantly,Haryana gave a thumping majority to the Congress led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda,even though the legislation was brought by the same party in the neighbouring state.

Badal may have realised that he had bitten off more than he could chew; he has been avoiding the issue of late. Neither the BJP,allied to the Shiromani Akali Dal,nor the Congress wanted to be seen wholeheartedly supporting the demand; that was evident at the all-party meeting called by Badal on the issue. Both parties took an ambivalent stand and the meeting failed to reach any consensus. It was finally resolved that an all-party delegation would meet the prime minister to highlight Punjab’s problems and the need to “save” water in Punjab as its ground water level was going down alarmingly. Significantly,there was no reference to the demand for royalty in the official release issued by the state government.

The issue raised by Badal may continue to haunt political discourse till the ensuing elections and may even be again ignored by the general masses but such diversionary tactics can lead to serious consequences. Badal,of all people,must not forget the lessons the state had learnt from its recent bloody and scarred history.

vipin.pubby@expressindia.com