Centre seeks six weeks time to settle SYL canal dispute

The apex court would next hear the case on November 8.

The Union Government on Thursday sought six-weeks time from the Supreme Court to resolve the Sutlej Yamuna link canal dispute between Punjab and Haryana.

The apex court would next hear the case on November 8.

In a bid to end the impasse over the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal issue, the Supreme Court had in July said the orders passed by it have to be "respected and executed" and the governments of Punjab and Haryana have a duty to obey them. The court had then directed the two states to ensure that no agitation take place on the issue. Haryana has been witnessing protests over the SYL issue with main opposition INDL blocking roads and holding demonstrations.

The apex court had first decreed the suit of Haryana in 2002 asking Punjab to honour its commitments with regard to water sharing in the case. Punjab had challenged the verdict by filing an original suit that was rejected in 2004 by the Supreme Court which asked the Centre to take over the remaining infrastructural work of the SYL canal project.

Punjab has been insisting that the SYL water sharing agreement with Haryana was based on 1920 data, while the latter has been saying that it has been deprived of its legitimate share of water.

Oneindia News