With eye on Jat Sikh vote, Parkash Singh Badal led- Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has played a trump card by announcing to return the land acquired 38 years ago for the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal to the owners free of cost, which has made the Congress and the new entrant Aam Adami Party (AAP) agree in unison. Nearly 4,000 acres would be returned without a penny being charged from the original owners. The move in political circles is seen to win back the disgruntled core voters in the state-Jat Sikh farmers-ahead of the next year’s Assembly elections. The majority of the compensation for the land acquired between 1977 and 1982 was awarded to both Punjab and Haryana land owners by the Centre. Of the 214 km long canal 112 km is in Punjab and 92 km is in Haryana. While Haryana has been fighting for its share of water since it was hived off from Punjab in 1966, the Supreme Court is hearing a Presidential reference against Punjab cancelling its river water agreement with all the states since 2004. The canal water was to cater to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan which was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at that time Shiromani Akali Dal protested. The canal became a political issue between Akali Dal and Congress. Sharing of river waters has always remained a bone of contention between the beneficiary states. Though Haryana has condemned the Punjab resolution calling it unconstitutional, the historic Act will go down the annals of history as a unique gesture from Punjab which is already reeling under water shortage for agriculture.
