Punjab govt issues order to engineers to write note on SYL canal issue

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 15 : Amid the tussle on the Sutlej-Yamuna link (SYL) canal issue, the Punjab government has issued an order asking all the engineers of the Water Resources Department to write 1500 to 2000 words about Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal.
A letter was issued to the engineer by the Water Resources Department on March 13, 2023, in which it was written that most of the engineers of the Water Resources Department of Punjab lack knowledge about SYL and interstate water issues.
In this context, the government issued an order saying that all the engineers have been asked to write 1500 to 2000 words about all the information related to SYL, including the history of SYL, existing agreement, pre-partition status, current scenario and suggestions for the future.
Further, it was said by the government that this note about SYL is to be uploaded on the portal of the Water Resource Department.
"This portal has nothing to do with the SYL survey of the Supreme Court," the government clarified.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann slammed opposition leaders for their stand on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue and said that Sunil Jakhar, Sukhbir Badal, Partap Bajwa should be ashamed of themselves for allowing the survey of the land allocated to Punjab for the canal.
The Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal controversy in Punjab continues as the AAP government rejects the arrival of a survey team from the Centre and refuses to allow any survey of the SYL land.
The SAD alleges that a module on Punjab's water resources department's portal indicates a "SYL Canal survey." The Punjab government defended the module, stating it was launched to sensitize people about the SYL canal issue and has no connection to the recent Supreme Court order regarding the canal's construction.
Mann's remarks came in response to a statement by Devi Lal, a Haryana MLA, who praised the late Parkash Singh Badal, former Punjab Chief Minister, for allowing the survey.
In a post on X, CM Bhagwant Mann said "Honorable Sunil Jakhar ji, Sukhbir Badal ji, Bajwa ji, Raja Waring ji... Do you have a little shame or not?? Devi Lal praised Parkash Singh Badal in the Haryana Assembly for allowing the survey of SYL. As far as the water from the river goes, you need not worry. Since I was a child my parents used to ask me to look after the fields. Today also this is my duty and that duty is toward the Sutlej. On the first of November, the people will know who actually sacrificed for this land of Punjab."
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state and said that they "forgot their dignity" after assuming power.
"They (AAP government) are trying to divert the attention of people. They just diluted the time-tested stand in the Supreme Court, later their Advocate General said that they were ready to hold talks with Haryana but what kind of talks? There is no water in Punjab so what is the point of holding talks? they forgot their dignity after they came to power," the BJP chief said while speaking to ANI.
In 2004, the Punjab government passed a law that unilaterally cancelled the SYL agreement and other such pacts, however, in 2016, the apex court had struck down this law. Later, Punjab went ahead and returned the acquired land--on which the canal was to be constructed--to the landowners.