The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal stating that the government will not allow the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal since it was not in the state’s interests. Harcharan Singh Bains, advisor to the chief minister, said that all the state’s political parties “unanimously resolved that circumstances being what they are, the SYL Canal cannot be built in defiance of Punjab’s rights over its waters.
The move comes a day after the Supreme Court ordered a status quo on the land meant for building the canal, after Haryana alleged that it had been levelled so that it cannot be used. The apex court had also appointed Union home secretary, the state chief secretary and the director general of police as “joint receivers” of the land till the next hearing of the case.
The Haryana government on Thursday said it will not provide water to the national capital, after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sided with Punjab in the ongoing water dispute. Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party is contesting upcoming elections in Punjab.
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