Punjab CM Urges Centre to Focus on Chenab Water, Set Aside SYL Canal Debate

Rapid Summary:

• Punjab CM bhagwant mann urged the Center to utilise Chenab River waters to address Punjab-Haryana water disputes and sought the scrapping of the SYL canal project.
• Mann participated in a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini over water-sharing matters.
• The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan opens possibilities for diverting Chenab waters to Indian dams like Ranjit Sagar, Pong, or Bhakra, primarily benefiting Punjab.
• New canals and infrastructure are proposed for transporting Chenab water, first addressing Punjab’s needs before supplying excess to Haryana and Rajasthan.
• Mann emphasized that using Chenab water will reduce groundwater dependence,revive surface irrigation,support agriculture in Punjab,and safeguard resources for future generations.
• He argued that western river waters shoudl be allocated to Punjab on priority. Additional storage dams upstream of existing ones (Bhakra & Pong) in Himachal pradesh were also suggested.
• The CM recommended alternatives like the sharda-yamuna Link project via Rohtang tunnel as a substitute for SYL canal construction and proposed transferring surplus Yamuna water downstream while making allocations inclusive of states like Delhi and Rajasthan post-review by 2025.
• Haryana was noted as having unaccounted access from other rivers contributing significantly-Tangri Nadi, Ghaggar River among others-wich could offset its needs without burdening Ravi-beas sources shared commonly; fearing emotive standing grave escalation socio-political remaining upfront safeguards YSY strongly highlighted concerns reiterating sensitizations