SYL Canal come up in Haryana Budget 2023

February 21, 2023

The Haryana Governor recently addressed the Budget session of the state. During the address, he said that the State Government is very stubborn in implementing the SYL Canal project.

What is SYL Canal?

It is a canal between Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. The canal is a river-sharing mechanism between Punjab and Haryana. After completion, the states of Punjab and Haryana will share the waters of Ravi and Beas.

Powers of Parliament

The central government has the power to make laws on water sharing between the states. The rivers and the inter-state rivers fall under the union list.

History of the Canal

Indus Water Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan. India gained the rights of Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. In 1966, the state of Haryana was carved out from Punjab. After the division, Punjab refused to provide its water to the state of Haryana state. Haryana proposed the SYL Canal.

In 1981, Punjab agreed. In 1982, the construction of the canal started. Protests and agitations began and the issue intensified. Akali Dal was against the construction of the canal claiming the waters belong only to Punjab by the Riparian principle.

In 1985, Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord with the Akali Dal to set up ‘ERADI TRIBUNAL”’ to assess the water sharing between the states. In 1987, the tribunal increased the water shares of Punjab. Haryana did not accept.

In 1996, Haryana went to the SC. SC ordered Punjab to complete its work in its territory. Haryana had already completed 85% of the work on its land.

In 2004, Punjab passed a Termination of Agreement Act and stopped all the projects related to the canal.

In 2016, SC took up the case again and ruled that Punjab backed out of its promise

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