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Punjab & Haryana Chiefs Meet for Crucial SYL Canal Talks in Chandigarh

A joint meeting between Punjab and Haryana commenced in Chandigarh to discuss the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, following Supreme Court directions. Chief Ministers Bhagwant Mann and Nayab Singh Saini are leading their respective state delegations. The SYL canal, a 214-kilometer project, is central to the decades-old dispute over sharing Ravi and Beas river waters. Separately, Haryana has secured a Rs 5,700 crore World Bank loan for a major water sector project aimed at restoring hundreds of canals.

Key Points: SYL Canal Talks: Punjab & Haryana Meet in Chandigarh

  • Supreme Court-directed dialogue
  • Decades-old water sharing dispute
  • 214-km SYL canal project
  • World Bank loan for Haryana water project
  • Focus on canal restoration
2 min read

Punjab and Haryana hold joint meeting in Chandigarh to discuss SYL canal issue

Chief Ministers Bhagwant Mann and Nayab Singh Saini hold a joint meeting in Chandigarh to resolve the long-pending Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal water dispute.

"The meeting is being held as per the directions of the Supreme Court - Supreme Court directive"

Chandigarh, January 27

A joint meeting of Punjab and Haryana began in Chandigarh on Tuesday to discuss the long-pending Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue.

The meeting is being held as per the directions of the Supreme Court, which had asked both states to try and resolve the matter through dialogue.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attended the meeting. Haryana Cabinet Minister Shruti Choudhary and Punjab Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal are also present, along with several senior administrative officials from both states.

Last year in May, the Supreme Court asked both states to work together with the Centre to find a mutually acceptable solution to the decades-old canal dispute.

The SYL canal was planned to ensure fair and efficient sharing of the Ravi and Beas river waters between Punjab and Haryana.

The project plans a 214-kilometre-long canal, with 122 kilometres to be built in Punjab and the remaining 92 kilometres in Haryana.

In another incident, the World Bank has approved technical and financial assistance (loan) of Rs 5,700 crore under the 'Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project', with the objective of making the state self-reliant in the water sector.

The Haryana Chief Minister, who chaired a meeting of officials in Chandigarh regarding the Jal Sanrakshit Haryana programme, said the amount will be disbursed in a phased manner over six years, from 2026 to 2032, according to a release.

The funds will be utilised for large-scale works in the canal sector. He said that out of a total of 1,570 canals in the state, 892 canals have been restored over the past 20 years, and the restoration of the remaining 678 canals is proposed to be completed in the next five years. This includes restoration of 115 canals at a cost of Rs 2,325 crore with World Bank financial assistance, 284 canals at a cost of Rs 2,230 crore from the state budget, and 279 canals at a cost of Rs 2,880 crore through NABARD.

The Chief Minister said that out of a total of 15,562 canal minors under MICADA, 4,487 minors have been restored over the past 20 years, and the remaining 1,961 minors are proposed to be restored over the next five years.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Good to see the Supreme Court pushing for a negotiated settlement. The SYL canal is crucial for Haryana's water security, especially for our agricultural belt. The World Bank loan for canal restoration is also a positive step for long-term water management.
P
Priya S
As someone from Punjab, I appreciate CM Mann sitting for talks. But let's be clear, Punjab's river water levels are not what they used to be. Any solution must be based on current reality, not agreements from the 60s. Our farmers are already struggling.
R
Rohit P
Chandigarh is the perfect neutral ground for this. Both states need to move beyond politics for the sake of the people. The detailed plan for restoring hundreds of canals in Haryana shows how critical infrastructure is. Hope Punjab gets similar focus on water conservation.
K
Karthik V
While dialogue is welcome, I'm skeptical. This feels like another meeting for the sake of it. The Supreme Court has given directions before. What we need is a binding agreement with a clear timeline, not just photo-ops in Chandigarh. Action speaks louder than words.
M
Michael C
The technical and financial details in the article about canal restoration are impressive. A Rs 5,700 crore project is massive. Efficient water use and infrastructure are key for any state's future. Hopefully, the SYL talks also incorporate modern water-sharing technology and sustainability principles.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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