SGPC Passes Resolution Against Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee passed a resolution against the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal in Punjab. The committee said that no coercive action or injustice on the issue of the waters of Punjab will be tolerated.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday passed a resolution against the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Punjab. The resolution was passed following a meeting of the SGPC's executive committee in Amritsar.

No Coercive Action or Injustice Will Be Tolerated

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that the committee will not tolerate any coercive action or injustice on the issue of the waters of Punjab. He said that the Supreme Court's recent direction to the Centre to survey the portion of land in Punjab allocated for the construction of a part of the SYL canal is a matter of concern, and that it is the duty of the state government to represent the rights and interests of its people and firmly register its stand against the SYL.

Punjab Government Did Not Present Its Stand Properly in Court

Dhami said that the current situation has arisen only because the Punjab government did not present its stand properly in the court. He said that the executive has clearly resolved that if any injustice is done on the issue of water, the SGPC will stand firmly in favour of Punjab.

Punjab Moving Towards Serious Problem of Dark Zones

Dhami said that Punjab is already moving towards the serious problem of dark zones due to the limited availability of canal water and extraction of groundwater through lakhs of tube wells. He said that most of the water from Punjab's share is being given to Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi in violation of the international riparian law.

No Compensation Given to Punjab

Dhami said that in return, no compensation was given to Punjab either in the past or present. He said that if there is any injustice done on the issue of the waters of Punjab, it will not be tolerated.

SGPC Elections to Be Held on November 8

Meanwhile, the general house session for the annual election of the SGPC president, senior vice-president, junior vice-president, general secretary and the members of the executive committee will be held on November 8 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall located in the SGPC office. Dhami said that according to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, the office-bearers of the SGPC are elected annually.