Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini is preparing to take a firm stand on several long-pending inter-state issues during the 32nd Northern Zonal Council (NZC) meeting being held in Faridabad on Monday. The meeting, chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, will bring together chief ministers, lieutenant governors, and senior officials from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh. A total of 29 agenda items have been approved for discussion, covering water disputes, education, health, electricity, law enforcement, and environmental concerns.
According to officials familiar with the agenda, Haryana plans to strongly raise three major issues: the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, the under-supply of Ravi-Beas water by Punjab, and the state’s demand for restored representation in Panjab University (PU). These matters have remained unresolved for decades, and the state government is hoping the NZC platform will bring some forward movement.
One of the most important issues is the completion of the SYL canal in the territory of Punjab. Haryana has long argued that the state is legally entitled to 3.50 million acre-feet (MAF) of Ravi-Beas waters under existing agreements. The state government says that Punjab’s continued delay in constructing its portion of the canal has affected Haryana's water availability, especially during dry months.
The approved agenda also includes other major water-related topics such as the appointment of a Rajasthan member to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Punjab’s plan to set up mini hydropower projects on the Bhakra Main Line Canal, and the supply of Yamuna water to Rajasthan at Tajewala. Discussions will also cover pollution in the Yamuna in Delhi and exemptions related to coal usage in NCR power plants.
Officials say Haryana will highlight the urgent need to build the SYL canal by pointing to the poor condition of the Nangal Hydel Channel (NHC). This 61 km-long canal, built more than six decades ago, is the only carrier system available to transport Bhakra Dam water to Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Chandigarh. Haryana will argue that the ageing structure is vulnerable to collapse. If the NHC fails, the entire water supply system for all partner states would break down.
The Haryana government plans to present this as a major risk, saying the SYL canal is necessary not only for Haryana but for the “collective water security of the region.” Sources say the state will emphasise that relying on a single old canal is unsafe and that the SYL canal would serve as an essential parallel channel.
Another major issue Haryana will raise is its demand for restoration of representation in Panjab University. Haryana earlier had a share in PU before 1973, and the state wants this arrangement reinstated. It has requested that colleges in Ambala, Panchkula, and Yamunanagar be allowed to affiliate with the university. Haryana has also offered to provide additional financial support and land to establish a PU campus within the state. The matter has been a point of disagreement between Punjab and Haryana for years.
The state is also expected to highlight concerns regarding the supply of Yamuna water to Rajasthan. Rajasthan has asked Haryana to approve a jointly prepared detailed project report (DPR) for water transfer through underground pipelines between July and October. Haryana, however, says it has already signed an MoU but prefers that Rajasthan receive water downstream from Mavi, which it argues will ensure full supply and reduce pipeline costs. This point is expected to spark debate between the two states during Monday’s meeting.
ALSO READ: Kejriwal’s swift ascent contrasts with Kishor’s early setback in debut political battles
ALSO READ: Understanding hypotension: Signs, reasons, and when it becomes serious
On the other side, Punjab is expected to raise its own concerns at the NZC meeting. According to the approved agenda, Punjab will demand a share in the Yamuna waters, arguing that Haryana was allocated Ravi-Beas water even though the state does not fall within those river basins. Punjab will say that similar logic should apply to Yamuna waters, proposing a division of unutilised water in a 60:40 ratio.
Punjab’s point is that two different standards were applied: Haryana received Ravi-Beas waters despite not being part of that basin, but Punjab was denied Yamuna waters for the same reason. Punjab will also argue that instead of forcing the state to construct the SYL canal to transfer Ravi-Beas water to Haryana, the central government should build new storage structures on the Yamuna to increase water availability for the region.
Punjab is also likely to argue that alternative water sources should be explored for Haryana instead of burdening Punjab with additional canal construction.
Apart from water and university disputes, the NZC meeting will also discuss a range of national and regional concerns. These include improving the quality of education, boosting healthcare services, strengthening electricity supply, and speeding up investigations into sexual offences against women and children. Environmental issues, particularly air pollution in Delhi and NCR power plant fuel-use exemptions, are also listed for discussion.
Officials say the NZC is an important platform that allows states to raise and negotiate inter-state issues that otherwise remain stuck for years. Monday’s meeting is expected to bring sharp exchanges between Haryana and Punjab on water rights, but officials hope it will also lead to constructive steps forward.
Copyright © © 2022 Copyright. All Rights Reserved with Arth Parkash