CHANDIGARH: With the NDA government taking a stand in the Supreme Court that the Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal should be constructed to facilitate water to neighbouring BJP-ruled Haryana, Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) shaky alliance with the BJP in Punjab is being tested. Sharing of the waters of the Ravi and Beas is likely to become a political issue ahead of the Assembly elections.
On March 8, the apex court will hear the case related to completion of the unfinished canal, which will carry water from Punjab to Haryana.
In 2002 and 2004, the court ordered the Union government to complete the canal. In 2004, the state assembly enacted the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, which annulled all inter-state agreements relating to sharing Ravi and Beas water.
The unfinished canal starts from the tail end of Anandpur Hydel canal near Nangal in Punjab, and was to connect the Western Yamuna Canal in Haryana. Its construction began in 1981 by both states, but was stopped after Punjab militants killed engineers and workers in 1990. The canal was to carry 15 MAF of water. Haryana was to construct 91.16 km and Punjab 122 km of the canal. Haryana has completed its portion, and was to get 3.85 MAF of water.
With Assembly elections within a year, SAD has to decide whether to continue with BJP, if the Supreme Court rejects the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act. “Punjab’s stand has been consistent, clear and categorical. There can be no compromise on the rights of Punjab as a riparian state. SAD is ready to make every sacrifice for this sacred path. No price is too high to safeguard every drop of Punjab’s waters,’’ said CM Parkash Singh Badal.
“The NDA government at the Centre, of which BJP and Akali Dal are part and parcel, has taken a stand in the Supreme Court that is against the interest of Punjab,” said Capt Amarinder Singh.
Congress can benefit in the elections as the Act was passed while he was CM.