CHANDIGARH: Radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa has urged the Punjab Government to fend-off the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and take up measures to implement the resolution of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha adopted on November 16 last year seeking charges for state's river waters from non-riparian states.
Dal Khalsa president Harpal Singh Cheema had written a letter to Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal asking whether the State government should protest against the NGT’s current order directing the State to file an affidavit on February 8 regarding the quality of water being supplied to Rajasthan through the Indira Gandhi Canal.
In a letter e-mailed to Chief Secretary and Secretary of Science Technology and Environment, Cheema pointed out that Rajasthan seemed to have forgotten the saying “Beggars cannot be choosers.” As per Riparian rights of Punjab, water has been illegally flowing to Rajasthan and now through one of its residents, it has the temerity to demand clean water.
Referring to the resolution passed in the State Assembly on November 16, demanding charges for river waters flowing to the non-riparian states over the decades, Cheema said under the circumstances, rather than the quality of water, it is the flow to Rajasthan that is the basic issue. “If no water flows to Rajasthan, the question of treating it will not arise”.
He was of the view that till the subject of enforced supply of water to Rajasthan and other areas is settled, the NGT or any other executive or appellate authority at the central or State level has no power to intervene.
Does anyone in Rajasthan realize the damage that has been done to the crop produce, waters, fertility of land and ground water of Punjab because of the continuous flow of water to Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, Cheema asked.