CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said his government has returned the cheque for Rs 191.75 crore "in original" which Punjab had sent yesterday for Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
The Punjab Cabinet had on Tuesday decided to despatch a cheque for Rs 191.75 crore back to Haryana which had sent it towards construction of the SYL canal.
The cheque was despatched yesterday. The Haryana government has also moved an application in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on Punjab government's recent move on SYL canal issue. In a statement in the Haryana Assembly, Khattar said, "The bill concerning SYL canal has not yet been signed by the Governor."
Punjab Assembly had on Monday passed the Punjab Satluj Yamuna Link Canal Land (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Bill, 2016, which aims to de-notify the land acquired for construction of SYL canal, a lingering dispute between the two neighbouring states.
"As hearing on Presidential reference is scheduled for today in the Supreme Court, the government has filed the application linking the latest action of Punjab on SYL canal with the Presidential reference for hearing," he said.
"At today's hearing, the Supreme Court has added the state's application and its decision would be announced by evening," the Chief Minister said. Khattar said he has also spoken to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and expressed his displeasure over Punjab Government's move on the SYL canal. Noting that Haryana government has shown strong resentment over Punjab's unconstitutional move on SYL canal issue, Khattar said he has returned the cheque to Punjab government.
"We are constantly in touch with Centre on SYL issue. I have spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All our MPs have also met the Prime Minister on this issue," he said. The Haryana Chief Minister said since Punjab government's move on SYL canal is unconstitutional; he has requested Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki not to give assent to the bill.