Sensational Disclosure on SYL: Rajasthan was also supposed to get water share from SYL canal? Journalist Gurpreet Singh Mandiani gives insight
Gurpreet Singh Mandiani
Ludhiana, December 28, 2023: Amid the ongoing standoff between Punjab and neighboring state Haryana over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue,another Sensational fact came to light that Rajasthan, the third stakeholder in River Waters,was also supposed be given its share of water as per the Water agreement of 1981.
In 1981, when all the technical proposals for building the SYL canal were finalized, the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan agreed in the presence of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to complete the construction of the canal.
Apart from other items of the agreement, one thing that was also considered and accepted was to provide water to Rajasthan through the SYL canal.
In paragraph 4 of this agreement signed on December 31, 1981, regarding the water drawing capacity of the canal, it was mentioned that if Punjab and Haryana do not reach any consensus within 15 days from today, then as per the recommendation of the Central Water Commission, the capacity of the canal will be considered as 6500 cusecs.
In the next sub-paragraph of this fourth paragraph, it has been said that Rajasthan is demanding .57 million acre-feet (MAF) of water through the SYL canal. To agree to this demand of Rajasthan, the Central Irrigation Secretary will try to reach an agreement by talking to the three states. If the agreement is not reached then the Central decision given by the Irrigation Secretary regarding the quantity of water to be given to Rajasthan will be acceptable to all three states. It was also written that if the capacity of the canal needs to be increased to provide water to Rajasthan, then that too will be increased at the expense of Rajasthan.
One more point that confirms the doubts about providing water to Rajasthan through the SYL canal is the amount of water allocated to Rajasthan.
Rajasthan was allotted 8.00 MAF of water in 1955. At that time Rajasthan was drawing water out of the canal from Harike Headworks for its use.
At the same time, 11.13 percent of water was taken from the Bhakhra Main Line, a concrete canal coming out of the Nangal Dam. Under the agreement of 1981, 8.60 MAF of water was allotted to Rajasthan i.e. .60 additional MAF of water which was being supplied earlier. Therefore, the canals running to Rajasthan did not have the capacity.
Read the relevant portion of the 1981 Water Agreement
(iv) The Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project shall be implemented in a time bound manner so far as the canal and appurtenant works in the punjab territory are concerned within a maximum period of two years from the date of signing of the Agreement so that Haryana is enabled to draw its allocated share of waters. The canal capacity for the purpose of design of the canal shall be mutually agreed upon between Punjab and Haryana within 15 days, failing which it shall be 6500 cusecs, as recommended by former Chairman, Central Water Commission.
Regarding the claim of Rajasthan, to convey 0.57 MAF of waters through Sutlej-Yamuna Link-Bhakra system, Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation, Government of India will hold discussions Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan with with a view to reaching an acceptable solution. These discussions shall be concluded in a period of 15 days from the date of affixing signatures herein and before the work starts. If no mutually acceptable agreement is reached, the decision of Secretary, Ministry of irrigation to be given within this period shall be binding on all the parties. In case it is found necessary to increase the capacity of Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal beyond that decided under above sub-para in any or entire reach thereof, the States concerned shall implement the link canal in a time bound manner with such increased capacity at the cost of Rajasthan Government.
It is also mentioned in the 1981 agreement that Punjab will have the freedom to use Rajasthan's share of water until Rajasthan becomes capable of using its entire share.
Therefore, in both the situations mentioned above, if Rajasthan had decided not to get water on its own, then the Punjab government should have publicized this as an important achievement in the White Paper issued on water.
The same thing was reiterated in this White Paper also. It was reiterated that until Rajasthan becomes capable of using more water, Punjab has the right to use this water. This white paper was released on 23 April 1982, 3 months after the earlier mentioned date of 15 January.
It is to be mentioned that to date, neither Rajasthan had refused to take water nor the Central Irrigation Secretary had refused to give water to Rajasthan but this is still a mystery that what was the order of then Union Irrigation Secretary.
Click to read more details in Punjabi
Supreme Court's order on SYL canal
It is to be mentioned that in October this year, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Punjab government for not taking steps for the construction of the canal. The court remarked that Punjab has to cooperate in the process.
The court directed the Centre to survey the portion of the land allocated to Punjab. The court also directed the Centre to look into the mediation process. The court listed the matter for further proceedings in January 2024.
An apex court asked the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana to attempt to resolve the issue amicably. As a result Punjab and Haryana CMs will be meeting on Dec 28, 2023 at Chandigarh. Union Minister for Water Resources Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to preside over the meeting.
Gurpreet Singh Mandiani