M A I N   N E W S

Punjab to take SYL issue to President
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7
As a fresh strategy devised at an all-party meeting, which was boycotted by SAD, the BJP and the BSP, political leaders today decided to knock at the door of the President, The Prime Minister, the Law Minister and the Water Resources Minister to seek justice for Punjab on the SYL issue and the river waters.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to submit a memorandum to the President, Prime Minister and others urging them to protect the rights of Punjab on river waters.

As Punjab appears to have been pushed to the wall on the river waters issue, the state government is moving fast to build up public pressure through political leaders to defend the state’s interest on the issue. On the one hand the SYL Canal issue will come up for the next hearing in the Supreme Court on February 10 and on the other hand the Eradi Tribunal has revived the river waters case after a gap of 17 years.

In fact, the river waters issue is again rapidly moving to the political centre stage in Punjab. It was this issue that had sunk Punjab into an unending vicious cycle of violence for years.

When told that Mr Pritam Singh Kumedan, a renowned river waters expert, had questioned the state government’s decision to seek the setting up of a fresh tribunal, Capt Amarinder Singh said his Government had engaged the best legal brains to protect the state’s rights over river waters. “But we are prepared to consult even Mr Kumedan and any body else who is prepared to assist the state government in this connection”, said the Chief Minister. He asked the Advocate-General, Mr Harbhagwan Singh, to get in touch with Mr Kumedan immediately.

The CM said the demand for a fresh tribunal had been made because of the “vast change in the factual position regarding river waters.” The flow in the river waters had come down from17.17 m.a.f to 14.34 m.a.f. and Haryana had started getting more water from the Yamuna through the Sharda link. He said even the Attorney-General, Mr Soli Sorabjee, had apprised the Law Ministry that there was a need to set up a fresh tribunal. Capt Amarinder Singh said the Eradi panel should be disbanded.

When asked about the boycott of the meeting by the main Opposition parties, Capt Amarinder Singh said “I regret that Mr Parkash Singh Badal has stayed away from the meeting.” He said he did not agree with the way Mr Badal wanted to deal with the river waters issue. Mr Badal wanted to create trouble in the state “but I am for a peaceful resolution to the dispute”, he added.

In fact, one chair was reserved for Mr Badal at the meeting and his name plate was also kept on the table in front of the chair. In absence of Mr Badal, the empty chair was offered to Dr Joginder Dayal, Secretary of the CPI, who refused to occupy the same saying he had his own identity. There was another chair marked for Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, President of the Punjab unit of the BJP, but he also stayed away.

Dr Dayal said before calling the meeting, proper preparation in this connection should have been made. The CM should have discussed the issue with Mr Badal.