The origins of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute trace back to 1960 with the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan. As per this treaty, India was granted ‘free and unrestricted use’ of the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. In 1966, when Haryana was carved out from the unified Punjab, the issue of water sharing arose. To ensure that Haryana received its share of water, planning for a canal linking the Sutlej river with the Yamuna was initiated. However, Punjab refused to share their waters, citing it contradicted the riparian principle.
In 1981, both states mutually agreed to the re-allocation of water and two years later, the construction of the 214-km SYL Canal began. This sparked numerous protests and agitations in Punjab, eventually escalating into a national security issue.
A Journey Through Decades: Evolution Of The Dispute
The importance of the SYL Canal was recognized by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Akali Dal Chief Sant, who set up a new tribunal under Supreme Court Judge V Balakrishna Eradi to reassess the allocation of water. In 1987, the tribunal recommended increasing the shares of Punjab and Haryana to 5 MAF and 3.83 MAF, respectively.
However, the dispute continued to persist. In 1996, Haryana moved the Supreme Court seeking Punjab’s cooperation in completing the SYL Canal construction. Despite Supreme Court directives in 2002 and 2004 ordering Punjab to continue the SYL Canal’s construction within its territory, the Punjab assembly passed an act in 2004 terminating all water-sharing agreements.
The Ongoing Dispute: Judiciary’s Intervention
In 2016, the Supreme Court began hearings into a presidential reference to decide on the legality of Punjab’s 2004 Act and declared it constitutionally invalid. The court emphasized that Punjab had backed out of its promise to share water. Again in 2020, the court instructed both states’ Chief Ministers to negotiate and settle the issue.
The Differing Views of Punjab and Haryana
Punjab strongly opposes sharing any additional water with neighboring states, stating that water availability has reduced over time due to over-exploitation of groundwater for irrigation.
On the other hand, Haryana advocates for completing the SYL Canal, citing a looming water crisis. They argue that the state is facing difficulties in providing irrigation and drinking water, specifically in the southern region.
Significance of The Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal
The SYL Canal is of high importance for enabling equitable sharing of water between Punjab and Haryana. Completion of the canal would address long-standing disputes and play a significant role in enhancing agricultural productivity and socio-economic development in both states.
Reasons Behind Water Sharing Conflicts Among Indian States
Water sharing conflicts among states are complex and often involve factors like geographical variations in water availability, climate change, unequal distribution of rivers, dam and reservoir construction, population growth and increased demands, and political and interstate relations.
Sustainable Solutions for Resolving Water Sharing Issues
Solutions include implementing water-saving technologies, modernizing irrigation systems, using technology for real-time monitoring and forecasting, establishing efficient conflict resolution mechanisms, and focusing on restoring and preserving river basin ecosystems.
The Way Forward
Permanent tribunal establishment with appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court could help in resolving the water disputes. Amendments to Article 262 and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act might prove useful. Achieving sustainability in water use should be the immediate target of any Constitutional Government.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Related Questions
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the question about river linking came up in 2016, followed by discussions on its advantages and possible impact on the environment in 2017. Further, questions around the far-reaching impact of melting Himalayan glaciers on India’s water resources, and the potential solutions offered by the interlinking of rivers were asked in 2020.
