Sutlej-Yamuna Canal Dispute: Punjab Will Burn If The Canal Is Built, CM Amarinder Singh Tells Centre

Punjab Will Burn And The State's Water-Sharing Dispute With Haryana Will Transform Into A National Security Problem If The Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Is Completed, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Warned The Centre On August 18 At A Virtual Meeting. The Meeting Was Also Attended By Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat And Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The Water Dispute Had Started In 1966 When Punjab And Haryana States Came Into Existence. Haryana Had Demanded A Large Chunk Of River Water Which Punjab Refused To Provide. Punjab Contended That It Didn't Have Surplus Water. The Meeting On August 18 Was Held On The Directions Of The Supreme Court, Which Asked The Two Chief Ministers Last Month To Discuss The Completion Of The SYL Canal, Which Is In The Works For Several Decades. He, However, Said That He Was Ready To Sit And Discuss The Issue With His Haryana Counterpart. As Per A Punjab Government Statement, Shekhawat Was Of The View That The Canal Should Be Completed While Discussions To Resolve The Water Dispute Continue. Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar Later Told The Reporters That The Two States Will Meet In Chandigarh For Further Talks On The Issue.