Meeting on SYL in Delhi today: Talks to be led by Union Minister CR Patil

August 5, 2025

Mohali, August 5: Today once again a meeting is going to be held in Delhi under the leadership of Union Water Power Minister CR Patil between Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Haryana CM regarding the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Earlier, a meeting was held 4 weeks ago on July 9, but no result could be achieved. However, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had laid down a condition.

CM Mann had said that he has no problem in giving water, but the condition is that Punjab should first get the water of Ravi. Punjab’s stand on SYL is clear. It will not be built. Haryana is our brother; if we get water, then there is no problem in supplying water further.

Before the meeting, CM Mann and CM Saini welcomed each other by hugging. This was the first meeting of the CMs of both the states under the leadership of CR Patil, and the talks took place in a positive atmosphere.

Mann told the media after the meeting that the talks took place in a very good atmosphere. Haryana CM also said that the meeting was fruitful. Punjab and Haryana are brothers. Both have the same courtyard. Efforts are being made to find a solution to this issue.

CM had resolved the middle path

Mann said- Ravi water should be brought to Punjab. Punjab CM said that hope has been created from the meeting. Water from the Indus Water Treaty that was cancelled with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, should be brought to Punjab. Jhelum water cannot come to Punjab, but Chenab and Ravi water can. This water can come through Pong, Ranjit Sagar Dam and Bhakra Dam.

What problem do we have in giving that water to Haryana? Haryana is our brother. We are the heirs of brother Ghanaiya, who gave water to the enemies. I told the minister that 23 million litre feet (MAF) of water will go from there. We are fighting for two-three MAF, so what problem will we have?

Two-four canals will be built in Punjab. This will make Punjab riparian again. Minister Patil has responded positively to his statement. However, Punjab’s stand on the SYL issue is clear.

Efforts continue to reach a consensus before August 13

SYL is 212 km long. The previous meetings were inconclusive. In this 212 km long canal, 92 km of Haryana’s part has been constructed, while the construction of 122 km of Punjab’s part is still incomplete. This meeting is an attempt to build a consensus between the two states before the hearing in the Supreme Court on August 13.

The Supreme Court had ruled in favour of Haryana in January 2002 and ordered Punjab to build the canal, but in 2004, the then Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh had cancelled the 1981 agreement by passing a law in the Assembly.

The meeting has been held 4 times before

The first meeting of the CMs of Punjab and Haryana on this issue was held on 18 August 2020, while the second meeting was held on 14 October 2022 and the third meeting on 4 January 2023. After this, the last meeting was held on 9 July. But no consensus could be reached between the two sides.