M A I N   N E W S

SYL canal a dead issue among Haryana voters
Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
Though all political parties have reiterated their commitment to speed up construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the issue no longer evokes any emotions among the state’s voters. Over the years it has become customary for the ruling party to make a mention of the canal in the governor’s address or in the annual budget, and for the opposition to criticise the incumbent government for not being serious enough about the “lifeline of the state”.

The same is true with election manifestos, in which every party pledges to complete the canal if it comes to power. This year’s elections are no exception with the Congress, INLD, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) and BJP all promising to expedite the canal’s construction. The BSP has not issued any manifesto.

Kamal Kishore, a resident of Ambala, said almost all parties ruled the state at one time or another but none of them did anything meaningful in this regard. The BJP’s track record is no better. Though it never formed the government it was an alliance partner of the INLD and Bansi Lal’s Haryana Vikas Party. The HJC’s patron, Bhajan Lal, who was chief minister for several years, is equally guilty, he added.

In fact political parties are expected to take an "informed stand” on national issues. However, their state units have adopted contradictory stands in Punjab and Haryana and their high commands remain a mute spectator.

It was the Congress government in Punjab that was instrumental in the enacting the Termination of the Agreements Act, which has further complicated the SYL issue.

The INLD, a regional party, has entered into an alliance with SAD(B) led by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal in the Haryana elections. The INLD has reiterated its commitment to constructing the SYL canal, even though the SAD(B) is determined not to allow river waters to Haryana.

When asked why his party was opposed to give water to Haryana, Badal evaded a direct answer saying his party’s present priority was to dislodge the Congress.