Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday asserted that there was no need of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal in the past and there is no need of it even now.
"The issue of SYL is very clear. There was no need of it, there is no need of it even now and we will not let it built," Badal told the media here.
Earlier, the Punjab Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution on the disputed issue of the SYL canal, stating that it would not be allowed to be constructed at any cost.
In a setback to Punjab, the Supreme Court had on Thursday directed maintenance of status quo on land meant for canal after Haryana alleged that attempts have been made to alter its use by levelling it.
The apex court in its interim order also appointed Union Home Secretary and Punjab's Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police (DGP) as the 'joint receiver' of land and other property meant for the canal till the next date of hearing on March 31, 2016.
Badal had earlier said that the state has no water to share, adding that the water crisis has occurred because the Riparian Act was not followed in the case of Punjab.
Badal's comment came a day after the Government of Haryana returned a cheque for Rs.191.75 crores to the Punjab Government following its refusal to accept poll-bound Punjab's push to pass a bill to return the land acquired for the canal.
In an attempt to prevent its neighbouring states from getting share from Punjab's river waters, the state assembly unanimously passed a bill against the construction of SYL canal, providing transfer of proprietary rights back to the land owners free of cost.
