Be clear and categorical, Capt Amarinder’s experienced advice to Mann ahead of SYL meet

CHANDIGARH, October 13: Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh today advised Bhagwant Mann to stand firm on his ground on the issue of Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal when he meets his Haryana counterpart tomorrow to deliberate on a solution.

“Please do ensure that there is no ambiguity in your stance and stand today which may prove costly for the state in future”, he cautioned Mann, adding, “you have to be clear and categorical that Punjab has not a drop of water to spare for anyone”.

In his experienced advice to Mann, Capt Amarinder hoped that he (Mann) was aware of the ground situation in Punjab, which is already facing a water crisis. “We do not have any spare water for any other state including Haryana so there is no question of providing any water to anyone”, he pointed out.

Capt Amarinder as the Chief Minister of Punjab had enacted the historical Water Sharing Agreements Repealing Act in 2004 to save Punjab waters from going to other states as otherwise Punjab would have turned completely barren.

The former Chief Minister advised Mann to raise the issue of Yamuna water effectively and aggressively. “While Haryana has no riparian rights over the Punjab rivers from which it is claiming the water, it has got absolute right over the Yamuna water coming through Tajewala barrage”, he said, adding, this was gross injustice to Punjab that Yamuna water was not factored in during the division of resources on 60:40 ratio between Punjab and Haryana.

He said Mann should ideally have taken everyone into confidence ahead of his meeting with the Haryana Chief Minister. “You will be representing the whole of Punjab and everyone in the state will be looking forward to how you watch and safeguard the state’s interest”, he told the Chief Minister while wishing him all the best for tomorrow’s meeting.