NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.: Political Science Study Material Punjab Water Politics

Get top class preparation for competitive exams right from your home: get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam.

Punjab Water Politics

  • Upwards of ₹ 850 crores have been spent building the 306-kilometre-long Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canaI.
  • But because Punjab refuses to build the small section of the project that has yet to be completed no water
  • On 15 January 2002, the Supreme Court ordered Punjab to finish work on the canal within a year failing this, it said, the Union government would have to undertake the work. Justice J J Patanaik noted that the Union government is feeling embarrassed to take any positive decision, which, in our view, is not in the interest of the nation. Singh, was passed by the House after a discussion lasting over one-and-a-half hours at a specially convened one-day session.
  • The session was called in view of the apex court order asking the Centre to ensure early completion of the SYL canal in Punjab.
  • The move came two days ahead of the Supreme Court deadline for the Centre to hand over construction of the canal to the Central Public Works Department. President seeks SC view on SYL row
  • Faced with a raging inter-state row after Punjab annulled all river water sharing agreements with neighboring states, the Centre in July 2004 referred the controversial measure to the Supreme Court.
  • President A P J Abdul Kalam sought the apex court՚s opinion on the validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.
  • In seeking the Supreme Court՚s opinion on Punjab՚s termination of its rivers water-sharing accords with neighboring states, the President made the following points:

Points Raised

  1. Whether the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 and the provisions thereof are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India
  2. Whether the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 and the provisions thereof are in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 and the Notification dated 24th March, 1976 issued there under:
  3. Whether the State of Punjab validly terminated the agreement dated 31.12. 1981 and all other agreements relating to the Ravi Beas waters and is discharged from its obligation under the said agreement (s)
  4. Whether in view of the provisions of the Act, the State of Punjab discharged from its obligations flowing from the judgment and decree dated 15.01. 2002 and the judgment and order dated 04.06. 2004 of the Supreme Court of India.