Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that a “constructive and detailed” meeting was held with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini on the long-pending Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, CM Mann said, “This issue has been stuck in the Supreme Court for a long time. But today, we had a very important and productive discussion.”
Highlighting the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, Mann suggested that Punjab could benefit from diverted waters of the Ravi and Chenab rivers.
“Since the Indus Water Treaty has been held in abeyance, we can receive water from the Chenab and Ravi rivers via Pong Dam, Ranjeet Sagar Dam, and Bhakra Nangal Dam. If Punjab is the channel, then why would we object to passing on water further?” he remarked.
Mann said he had requested Union Minister CR Patil to consider allocating 13 MAF (million acre-feet) of water from these rivers. “If we get that, we will use some of it and send the rest to Haryana,” he added, signalling a potential breakthrough in easing regional tensions over water distribution.
