Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal Issue

Context:

• Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Union government to conduct a survey of the land allocated for construction of part of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.

What is SYL?

• SYL or Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link Canal is a 214 km waterway proposed to connect the Sutlej River in Punjab to Yamuna Canal in Haryana for effective allocation of water between these two states.

What is the issue of SYL Canal?

• The  Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue  dates back to 1966, from the time of the reorganization of Punjab.
• When Haryana was formed, a need arose to share river waters with the newly formed state. 
• But Punjab opposed sharing the waters of Ravi and Beas with Haryana, citing the riparian principle. 
  • The riparian principle says that the state through which a river passes has the right to its waters.

Timeline of SYL Canal Dispute

• 1981: A water-sharing agreement was signed between Punjab and Haryana for the effective allocation of water.
• 1981: The agreement envisaged the construction of 214 km Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link Canal of which 122 km was to be constructed in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana.
• 1982: Construction of 214-km SYL Canal launched in Kapoori village in Punjab
  • While Haryana constructs its portion of SYL Canal, Punjab stops work after the initial phase, leading to multiple cases.
• 1996: Haryana moves Supreme Court seeking directions to Punjab to complete work on Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link Canal.
• 2002: SC decrees Haryana’s suit and orders Punjab to honor its commitments on water-sharing
• 2004: SC rejects Punjab’s original suit and asks the Centre to take over the remaining work of SYL canal project
• 2017: Punjab returns land — on which Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link Canal was to be constructed — to landowners
• 2020: SC asks Centre to mediate between CMs of Punjab and Haryana to find an amicable solution to Sutlej- ­Yamuna Link Canal dispute
• 2023: Centre tells SC that talks between the two states have failed as Punjab refused to construct its part of the canal

Punjab Government’s Stand on SYL Canal

• As per a state government study, many areas in Punjab may go dry after 2029. 
• As reports, water in about 79% of the state’s area is over-exploited. 
  • For Example: Out of 138 blocks, 109 blocks are “over-exploited”, two blocks are “critical” five blocks are “semi-critical” and only 22 blocks are in the “safe” category. 
• In such a situation, the government says sharing water with any other state is impossible.

Haryana Government’s Stand on SYL Canal

• Haryana has been staking claim to the Ravi-Beas waters through the SYL Canal on the plea that providing water for irrigation was a tough task for the state. 
• In southern parts, where underground water had depleted up to 1700 feet, there was a drinking water problem. 
• Haryana has been citing its contribution to the central food pool and arguing that it is being denied its rightful share in the water as assessed by a tribunal.

Ravi & Beas Tribunal

• The Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal or the Eradi Tribunal, headed by Supreme Court Judge V Balakrishna Eradi, was set up in 1987.
• It recommended that the shares of Punjab and Haryana be increased to 5 MAF and 3.83 MAF, respectively.

Source: The Hindu

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