Haryana CM ML Khattar seeks new Vidhan Sabha building in Chandigarh, raises SYL

New Delhi, July 9

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today raised several issues concerning the state, including the SYL canal and a new building for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh, during a Northern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He also raised the issues of appointment of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) members and the restoration of state’s share in Panjab University. He demanded that the colleges of Haryana in areas adjoining Chandigarh should be affiliated with Panjab University.

Due to the non-completion of the SYL canal, surplus water of the Ravi, Sutlej and the Beas was going to Pakistan, Khattar said. He requested the Centre to intervene and resolve the issue. He claimed Haryana was allotted 3.50 million acre-feet share in the Ravi-Beas surplus water, as per an order of the Centre dated March 24, 1976.

He also claimed that Punjab was not taking further action on a decision taken at a meeting of the CMs of both states with the Union Jal Shakti Minister. The meeting was held on August 18, 2020, on the directions of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government requested for setting up a new water tribunal for assessing the river water situation in the state.

Representing the state government, Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains opposed the SYL canal construction. He asserted that Punjab did not have even a single drop of water to share with other states, officials said.

Bains said the groundwater level in the state was already depleting and most of the blocks were in dark zones. He is learnt to have said that the assessment of river water sharing made by tribunals in the past is obsolete in the current scenario.

Officials said Amit Shah assured the Haryana CM that his request as regards the land for the Haryana Vidhan Sabha complex at Chandigarh would be considered positively.

In a statement, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said, “Complex problems of sharing river water among the member states were also discussed. Amit Shah asked the states concerned to adopt a cordial approach to the issue and find a time-bound solution.”

Claiming that the role of the council was advisory in nature, the MHA said, “Shah expressed happiness that in his three years of experience, more than 75% of the issues in the council were resolved by consensus and that efforts should be made to achieve 100% results on issues requiring building of national consensus.”

Besides Shah and Khattar, the meeting was also attended by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur, Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Punjab Governor and administrator of Chandigarh Banwarilal Purohit as well as senior officers from these states.