Hooda offers to settle inter-state water dispute with Punjab

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today favoured an out of court settlement of the ongoing water dispute with Punjab provided the neighbouring state gives Haryana "its due share of water".
Replying to questions on Governor's address in the ongoing session of the state Assembly here, Hooda said "I invite Punjab to sit across the table so that we can try to find out a solution to the problem, but that is provided they give us our due share of water".
The Chief Minister also reiterated his commitment to ensure that due share of the state's water reach southern Haryana, pointing out that the BML Hansi Butana Link canal has already been constructed.

Haryana had constructed Sutlej Yamuna link Canal (SYL) to bring the state's share of water from Punjab, which in 2004 enacted a law annulling all agreements relating to sharing of river water with neighbouring states, including Haryana.
"The issue of (SYL) was also being contested in the court by us," he told the House.
Hooda, who later interacted with mediapersons outside the Assembly, said that he was prepared for out of court settlement to resolve the water dispute with Punjab.

Hooda said that Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was his neighbour not only here (as the two CMs have their official residences located close by), but also in Uttrakhand where he had his land.

He said that the issue of SYL canal being the priority of the government, he would try to get it resolved out of the court.
In 2004, the Punjab Assembly had terminated water-sharing agreement with the neighbouring states and the matter is pending before the Apex Court. The President had referred the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 for opinion to the Apex Court by a reference of July 22, 2004.
The legislation passed by Punjab terminated all agreements relating to the Ravi-Beas waters, including the agreement of 1981 signed by Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.