Make 'YSL' instead of SYL, Punjab should be given water from Yamuna: CM Bhagwant Mann

New Delhi, January 4: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday categorically stated that the state does not have even a single drop of water to share with Haryana and said that the state should be given water from the Yamuna river instead.

Presenting a strong case before the Government of India on the SYL canal issue, Bhagwant Mann said that instead of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the project should be now named Yamuna Sutlej Link (YSL).

The Punjab CM asserted that Sutlej river has already dried up and the state does not have even a single drop of water to share. Instead, Punjab should receive water from the Ganga and Yamuna through the Sutlej river, he added.

Punjab cannot afford to share its water with any other state, the Chief Minister said following a meeting with his counterpart from Haryana, Manohar Lal Khatar, in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. "More than 78% of our 150 blocks are in extreme dark zone due to depletion of groundwater table," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister stated that when this anti-Punjab canal agreement was signed, the state was receiving 18.56 MAF of water, which has now been reduced to 12.63 MAF. He stated that "we no longer have any surplus water to share with other states." Bhagwant Mann went on to say that Haryana currently receives 14.10 MAF of water from the Sutlej, Yamuna, and other rivulets, while Punjab receives only 12.63 MAF.

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The Chief Minister stated that this is the only viable option that can be considered in light of the state's dire water scarcity situation. He claimed that, despite its smaller size, Haryana receives more water than Punjab and, ironically, demands more water at the expense of Punjab. The Punjab CM further said that how can we give water to Haryana if our own fields are starving for it.

Meanwhile, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar after the meeting said that no consensus has been reached, adding that Punjab government is not accepting SC decision.

"Supreme Court has said in its decision that SYL should be constructed but the Chief Minister and officials of Punjab are not ready to bring this topic on the agenda," Manohar Lal Khattar said

He said that the Punjab government is not even accepting the decision of the Supreme Court in which the Act brought by the Punjab government in 2004 has been repealed. The Chief Minister of Punjab says that the 2004 Act still exists, which is completely unconstitutional.

"Punjab is saying that there is no water and they are asking to discuss the distribution of water, while a separate tribunal has been formed for the distribution of water. Water will be distributed according to the recommendation of the tribunal," Haryana CM added.