CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today moved a resolution in Punjab Assembly against the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal with opposition Congress members keeping away from the House.
Badal moved a resolution saying in the interest of the people of Punjab, the House unanimously directs the state government, Cabinet and all government officials not to hand over the state's land for the construction of SYL canal and neither allow anybody to work on it, nor to cooperate for the purpose.
"The House takes a serious view of the fact that Punjab is already short of its water needs and farmers of the state are facing serious water crisis," Badal, who is leader of the House, said.
The resolution was moved amidst empty opposition benches as all 42 Congress MLAs had resigned from the state Assembly after the apex court's decision on Thursday.
A special session of the state Assembly was convened after the Supreme Court held as "unconstitutional" the 2004 law passed by the Punjab government to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.
Yesterday, upping the ante against the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Punjab Cabinet announced that it will denotify the land acquired for the project and return it to the "original owners" at no cost.