Dignity (December 8 1985) projected the effective linkage established by the Centre (and the Haryana Government) between the proposed transfer of Chandigarh and completion of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal. The motive initially was secret The idea was to present Punjab with the Chandigarh for water barter proposal Everything else was a part of cunning salesmanship. Mention of Abohar Fazilka and manipulation of the Mathew Commission were just intended to serve as a bargaining counter so that the barter idea is successfully sold to Punjab.
Bhajan Confirms
The plan stands completely exposed with the Haryana Chief Minister for the first time openly making his (and the Centers) intentions clear; Haryana shall not be found by any decision under the Punjab accord until the S.Y.L. canal is built (Indian Express: Dec 17 1985) But the Punjab Chief Minister reacted by stating that Jan 26, 1986 comes first and Aug 15, 1986.
later Chandigarh in terms of the Punjab accord is to be transferred to Punjab on Jan 26,1986 while the S.Y.L. canal is planned to be completed by Aug 151986. The Centre (and the Haryana Government) knows that the S.Y.L. canal cannot be built according to the schedule: laid down in the accord. The accord also envisages the establishment of a tribunal. Can the SYL canal be built before the establishment of the tribunal? A tribunal cannot be set up because Waters Disputes Act. The amount of water for Haryana has no constitutional right to share Punjab rivers water. A tribunal can only be set up to share water between or among riparian states. Thus is to be determined by the proposed tribunal. Since this is not possible the Centre and the Haryana Government are keen on linking Chandigarh — with the S.Y.L. canal
Article extracted from this publication >> January 18, 1991
