Gadkari’s advice – uttamhindu.com

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who had come to Punjab to review the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project and hoist the country’s highest tricolor flag at the Attari border, while speaking at a program organized in Harsha Chhina village, said that India-Pakistan During partition, rivers were divided between the two countries. Three rivers were divided, but Pakistan continued to get the water from Pakistan’s rivers, but the water from India’s rivers was being wasted to Pakistan. He said that if this water issue is resolved then there will be no water dispute between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. All three states will be able to get ample water. This comment of Gadkari has come at a time when politics is heated in Punjab after the Supreme Court’s order to conduct a survey of SYL. Expressing concern over the incidents of stubble burning in Punjab, Gadkari said that ethanol can be prepared. If the government does this, then definitely the farmers of Punjab will not burn the stubble, but will be ready to sell it. Five green fields and economic corridors are being built in Punjab worth Rs. 29 thousand crores. A 669 km green field expressway is being built from Delhi to Katra. With this, Delhi will reach Amritsar in four hours and Delhi will reach Katra in six hours.

Punjab today is facing two main challenges after the drug problem, first is the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal and second is the burning of stubble. The politics of Punjab has once again heated up over the water dispute that has been going on for decades between Punjab and Haryana. In the resolution passed in the executive meeting chaired by SGPC Principal Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, Dhami said that no coercion will be tolerated in the matter of Punjab’s water, other states will not be allowed to give even a drop of water, for this Even if SGPC has to adopt the path of agitation. According to Dhami, it is the duty of the Punjab government to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court against SYL. Dhami said that if there is any push on this matter, SGPC will stand firm in favor of Punjab and support the people of Punjab. He made it clear that Punjab is already moving towards the dark zone due to water shortage. In violation of international riparian law, maximum water from Punjab’s share is already being given to Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. In return, no benefit or compensation is given to the Punjab Government.

The political parties of Punjab, especially Congress, BJP and Akali Dal, have already made their stand clear regarding water sharing. Due to the statement given by Aam Aadmi Party MP Dr. Sandeep Pathak that Haryana should get its rightful water, Dr. Pathak is on target of other political parties.

The stance of Haryana units of Congress, BJP and other political parties is completely opposite to that of Punjab units and they are demanding water for Haryana along with the demand of building Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal.

The dispute over canal construction and water sharing between Punjab and Haryana should end now and can be started only by implementing the advice given by Gadkari. Even after construction of the canal, there can be dialogue regarding sharing of water but after construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal, the surplus water going to Pakistan can be stopped and given to Haryana.

Due to the construction of the canal, the canal can be helpful in releasing water in Bhakra Dam during monsoon when the water reaches the danger mark. Due to non-construction of the canal, Pakistan is benefiting and both Punjab and Haryana are suffering loss. There is every possibility of solution to the water dispute only by handing over the water going to Pakistan to Haryana after the construction of the canal.

The water dispute should be resolved once and for all by taking the advice given by Union Minister Gadkari seriously to both the parties and by rising above politics and thinking pragmatically. Pakistan is benefiting from the mutual dispute. Keeping this in mind, it is in everyone’s best interest to end the water dispute soon.