CHANDIGARH: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) has granted environmental clearance for land offered by Haryana to the Chandigarh Administration in exchange for land designated for a new assembly building complex.
This could snowball into a major political slugfest between Punjab and Haryana. All political parties in AAP-led Punjab, including the BJP, oppose the move, saying Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and Haryana has no right over it.
Sources said that the MoEF on Tuesday issued a notification clearing a proposal for transferring 12 acres to Chandigarh in lieu of land allotted to Haryana for building its own assembly building.
In July last year, Chandigarh Administration decided to allot 10 acres to Haryana in lieu of 12 acres adjacent to the tech park that falls in Haryana.
The decision to allot land in Chandigarh to Haryana, which was carved out of Punjab in 1966, carries political symbolism. Any concession to Haryana is perceived in Punjab as a weakening of the border state’s influence over the UT.
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar opposed the Centre’s move and sought PM Narendra Modi’s intervention. Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa called the decision an affront to Punjab’s rights. SAD’s Daljit Singh Cheema termed the decision a violation of the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966.
Carved out in 1966
When Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, it was promised that Chandigarh would be handed over to Punjab after some time. Until Haryana built its own capital, Chandigarh would remain Union Territory. However, 58 years have passed, and Chandigarh has not been handed over to Punjab.
Inter-state conflict
With MoEF clearance, Haryana can build its own assembly building in Chandigarh UT
The present Assembly building also hosts Punjab House
Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, but it hasn’t got its own Assembly building
All Punjab parties oppose concession to Haryana, saying it will weaken its claim on Chandigarh