Our Correspondent / New Delhi :
The Supreme Court today asked centre, states of Haryana, Punjab to maintain status quo on the Satlaj Yamuna Link, SYL canal. the apex court asked the Union Home Secretary, Punjab Chief Secretary and state DGP to ensure status quo on the SYL canal issue.
The SC prevented Punjab from returning to farmers around 4,000 acres of land acquired for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal.
A 5-member Constitution Bench headed by Justice AR Dave ordered status quo on the land until further orders on Haryana’s plea. The land acquired for the SYL canal should be taken over by the Union Home Secretary, Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for the purpose of maintenance of status quo, the Bench said.
Haryana’s senior counsel Shyam Divan cited The Tribune’s report to argue that MPs and MLAs of Punjab were already encouraging farmers to damage the canal and prepare it for cultivation.
This would render two SC judgements for the SYL canal construction meaningless, Haryana pleaded.
When Punjab pleaded against such an order, the Bench said it could not remain a spectator when attempts were being made to frustrate its orders.
The Punjab Assembly had passed a Bill on March 14 for returning the SYL canal land to farmers. Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki is yet to give his assent to the legislation.
The SYL canal is meant for enabling Haryana to draw its share of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers.