In a significant decision, the Punjab Cabinet today approved to return the entire money which it had received from Haryana in respect of SYL to the neighbouring state immediately.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Punjab Bhawan, this evening, an official spokesman said.
The Cabinet reiterated the SAD-BJP alliance government's firm commitment not to allow even a single drop of its rightful river waters to Haryana.
"Since water is the lifeline of Punjab so the question of sharing it with anyone does not arise at all and any decision against injustice to river waters of Punjab would never be accepted at any cost," the cabinet observed.
The Punjab government had yesterday passed a bill in the State Assembly seeking to re-vest property rights to the owners of nearly 4000 acres of land from whom it was acquired to construct the main Satluj Yamuna Link canal, with generous provisions for returning the compensation.
It was Haryana that had paid compensation to the owners of this chunk of land at the time of acquisition of the land in Punjab.
The land earmarked for return was acquired for Rs 35 crore, an official said, and paid by Haryana.
