Won’t allow construction of SYL canal: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday said the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal would not be “allowed at any cost and under any circumstance” and asked the people to be prepared for a tough battle ahead to safeguard river waters of the state.

It was high time to make “supreme sacrifices” rather than allowing the construction of SYL canal as it would divest people of Punjab of their legitimate rights over river waters, in “blatant violation” to the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle, Badal said.

Addressing a gathering during religious congregation to mark the commemoration of historic ‘Hola Mohalla’ here, Badal appealed to Punjabis to prepare themselves for tough battles ahead for the purpose.

The CM said he had recently declared to safeguard the river waters of the state at any cost in accordance with the Riparian principles in the august house of Punjab Vidhan Sabha. He declared that decisions aimed at “robbing” the state and its people of their “rights” would never be accepted to him and SAD-BJP alliance.

Badal thanked the state BJP leadership for supporting the state's cause for river waters.