Chandigarh, April 5: The resolution brought by Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal for the rights of Haryana on Chandigarh was unanimously passed during the one-day special session of Vidhan Sabha held here today.
In the one-day special session of the Vidhan Sabha, the House unanimously supported this resolution brought by the Chief Minister. During the discussion on this resolution, all the MLAs condemned the resolution passed by Punjab regarding Chandigarh.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana has a right on Chandigarh and the State will definitely get its legitimate share of SYL water. Along with this, he also raised the issue of Hindi-speaking villages which have been included in Punjab in the House.
The Chief Minister said that this special session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha has been called to pass the resolution brought for claiming its rights on Chandigarh. During the discussion in the Vidhan Sabha that lasted for 3 hours, about 25 MLAs including those in power and the opposition shared their views supporting the said resolution.
While discussing the resolution, Sh. Manohar Lal said that the Shah Commission constituted for partition on April 23, 1966, had asked to give the Hindi speaking village of Kharar region and Chandigarh to Haryana, but on June 9, 1966, in the meeting of the Union Cabinet, Chandigarh was declared as a Union Territory. It was also made the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. After that different agreements were reached but this issue was not resolved.
Punjab had wrongly included Kandu Khera
The Chief Minister said that at the time of partition, Punjab had wrongly included Hindi speaking village Kandu Khera by making it Punjabi speaking village. Punjab had made several big promises to the people of that village but today, media reports highlight that to date the people of this village did not get anything.
Haryana will surely get its legitimate share of SYL water
Chief Minister said that Haryana will definitely get its legitimate share of SYL water. A battle is being fought in the Supreme Court regarding this. Soon an execution order will be taken from the Supreme Court on the SYL issue so that the responsibility of building the canal goes to the Centre, Punjab, or any other institution.
He said that the right of Haryana to share waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers by the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) is historically, legally, judicially and constitutionally established over time.
The House has unanimously on at least seven occasions passed resolutions urging the early completion of the SYL canal. Several agreements, accords, Tribunal findings and judgments of the highest judiciary of the nation have all singularly upheld the claim of Haryana to the waters and directed the completion of the SYL canal. In 2002, the Supreme Court had ruled that Haryana should get SYL water and now the execution of this judgment is awaited.
The old system to be re-established in BBMB
The Chief Minister said that the membership of Haryana-Punjab in the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) should remain as before. He has written three letters to the Center in this regard. The first letter was written on April 19, 2021, the second letter is written on September 22, 2021, and the third letter was written on March 1, 2022.
The recent amendment in the rules of the Bhakra Beas Management Board by the Central Government for the appointment of whole-time members goes against the spirit of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. The Central Government should include BBMB in the Irrigation Department instead of the Electricity Department.
The share of officers on deputation from Haryana in UT should be as per the fixed ratio
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the reducing share of officers being sent on deputation from the Government to Haryana to the Administration of the Union Territory (U.T) of Chandigarh over the years. He said that the proportion earmarked for officers from the Government of Haryana to serve in the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh should continue in the same proportion.
Chief Minister urges Central Government
Through this resolution, the Chief Minister has urged the Central Government not to take any steps that would disturb the existing balance and maintain harmony till all the issues emanating from the reorganization of Punjab are settled. This house also urges the Central Government to take measures for the construction of the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court.
The House also urged the Central Government to prevail upon the State of Punjab to withdraw its case and permit the Hansi-Butana canal to be able to carry waters to water-deficient areas of the State of Haryana and equitable distribution.
Chandigarh is and will remain the capital of Haryana: Deputy Chief Minister
Speaking on the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that Chandigarh is and will remain the capital of Haryana. While supporting the resolution he also requested the Central Government to take action on this resolution.
He said that Haryana and Punjab share 40:60 even in the case of officers working in Chandigarh UT, but gradually this ratio has been reduced. He demanded that the share of Haryana is ensured in UT.
Sh. Dushyant Chautala said that the number of members of Haryana in BBMB should be kept as before. He also talked about sharing of Vidhan Sabha building on 40:60 basis.