JOIN USAmid several opposition from Haryana, the Punjab Legislature on Monday passed a Bill to de-notify land that was acquired by the government to construct the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.
The link canal was planned decades ago to carry water from rivers Ravi and Beas to Haryana and other areas. Now with the government deciding to return the land to owners, the controversy over water sharing between the two states seem to have got even more convoluted.
The Bill was introduced by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Punjab Assembly and was passed unanimously. It seeks to return 3,928 acres of land free of cost to the original owners.
The opposition and treasury benches engaged in a war of words over securing credit on the issue of protecting the riparian water rights of Punjab. Haryana has lodged its protest against Punjab's move on the controversial issue.