CHANDIGARH: Lal Singh, Punjab Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, announced that no construction work would be taken up on the SYL canal during the tenure of the Beant Singh Government in the state.

Addressing a “kisan panchayat” organized by the Bharti Kisan Union, Punjab, led by Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, here, the minister pointed out that whatever construction work had been done on the controversial canal had been undertaken before the Beant ‘Singh government took office in February, 1992, “Since then, not a brick had been laid. Nor will it be laid during the remaining year of the five-year term of the Beant Singh Government,” he declared.

He said the stand of the Beant Singh Government on the division of Ravi Beas waters between Punjab and Haryana was very clear. “Not a drop of river water belonging to Punjab would be allowed to flow out of the state. The Chief Minister was very firm on this issue; Nobody could cajole or browbeat him as regards SYL.” Lal Singh pointed out that whatever “deals” had been struck on the issue had been between the Center and the ‘kali leaders like Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Sineh Bamnala.

He assured the farmers that they need not be apprehensive on the issue, The interests of Punjab and its farmers were safe in the hands of the Chief Minister. ‘Turing to the problem facing the farmers, Lal Singh appealed to them to break out of the wheat paddy cultivation cycle which was becoming increasingly un remunerative, They should change their cropping pattern so that their economy continued to grow steadily. The government, he said, was doing its best. Steps were being taken to ensure adequate supply of pesticides, weedicides and fertilizers, Strong steps would be taken to check adulteration, As regards the current shortage of diesel, he said, it was partly due to hoarding by the farmers; the government was doing its best to case the situation.

Lal Singh said that the Chief Minister was fully aware of the problems of the farmers and wanted to come personally to receive the memorandum from the kisans but could not do so because he was held up in Delhi. Lal Singh had been specially deputed for the job.

The Punjab Government had also taken up with the Center the issue of payment of bonus ofRs20 per quintal on paddy last year.

Earlier, the minister received a memorandum containing the demands of the “kisan panchayat” from Manjit Singh Qadian, General Secretary of the BKU.

Lakhowal, in his speech, said that if the government stuck to its present stand on the SYL canal, the whole of Punjab would stand solidly behind Beant Singh. He also wanted the prourement price of wheat and paddy to be linked with the cost price index with 1966as the base year. He pressed for 16 hours’ power supply to the agriculture sector.

The “kisan panchayat” which was originally scheduled to be held outside the residence of the Chief Minister, was staged at the “Chandigarh Housing Board Chowk” when the police did not allow the farmers to proceed beyond it in view of the prohibitory orders.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 7, 1995