SUTLEJ-YAMUNA LINK DISPUTE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Recently, the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue has regained prominence in Haryana and Punjab politics due to the Supreme Court's directive, mandating Punjab's government to resume the construction of the project.

Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Dispute

• About: This is a 214-kilometer-long canal planned to link the Sutlej River in Punjab with the Yamuna Canal in Haryana.
• Aim: To facilitate the equitable distribution of water resources between these two states.
• Origins of Dispute: The longstanding dispute surrounding the canal revolves around its purpose of transporting water from Punjab to Haryana. 
• Confluence of Rivers: In Punjab, the river Beas flows into the river Sutlej, adding to the complexity of water distribution in the region.
• Post-1966 Reorganization: The conflict regarding the sharing of river water emerged following the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, which led to the creation of the state of Haryana as a separate entity from Punjab.
• Punjab's Refusal: After this reorganization, Punjab declined to share the waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers with Haryana, triggering the ongoing dispute.