CHANDIGARH: Haryana will never agree to Punjab’s demand for reopening the RaviBeas waters issue, which had been settled once and for all by the Eradi Tribunal, the Chief Minister, Mr. Bhajan Lal, said here last week.
The award of the Eradi tribunal was “final” and could not be legally challenged, Bhajan Lal said. Punjab was creating complications” by questioning the award, he alleged.
Punjab has demanded scrapping of all river water agreements with Haryana, a fresh look at the need for SYL, a reexamination of all laws, conventions and constitutional provisions governing distribution of river waters and sharing of river waters on the basis of the Punjab Reorganization Act The Punjab Government had adopted this and after a meeting of party MPs from the state, which was called by the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, later Beant Singh called a meeting of the Opposition leaders which decided to untidily fight for Punjab’s stand, Bhajan Lal said that Haryana would never bow to the pressure being put by Punjab. “They have not done any good. I could also call similar meetings; it is not at all difficult. They should help in sorting out the issues instead of making obstructions,” he said.
He wondered how the issues could be settled by scrapping all previous agreements. Both states would have to accept each other’s rightful claim. “After all, what is the basis of their claim on Chandigarh? Only that it was allocated to them,” he said. Similarly, Haryana was lawfully allocated a share of Rayi Beas waters and the SYL was meant to bring this water to Haryana, “We are not seeking any favor, Punjab should realize that the water is going to Pakistan,” the Chief Minister aid. Asked whether he would also call a meeting of the MPs and the Opposi: tion leaders of the state, Bhajan Lal said he would take the MPs, MLAS, the Cabinet and also the Opposition into confidence whenever there was any settlement of the outstanding issues with Punjab.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1995
