Haryana wants joint patrolling of canals, rivers with Punjab

CHANDIGARH - The Haryana government, which blames farmers in Punjab for diverting flood water from the Ghaggar river into the dry Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal leading to flooding in some districts, wants joint police patrolling of canals and rivers in both states.

Advisor to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda R.N. Prashar Monday said cuts in the SYL canal could be prevented by joint police patrolling.

Prashar, who visited SYL canal areas in the two states Sunday accompanied by senior officers of the irrigation department, said cuts in the SYL canal were made by the farmers of Punjab, causing flooding in Haryana.

“Senior officers of Punjab had already been intimated about this problem and they had assured cooperation in this matter. The Haryana government is making all out efforts to resolve this matter amicably,” he said.

He added that it was an inter-state matter and could take some time to resolve.

Irrigation and state government officials in Punjab have not responded to the joint patrolling suggestion made by Haryana.

Both states have blamed each other for last week’s flooding in certain districts following heavy rainfall in the region.

Nearly 400,000 acres of agricultural land, 2,000 villages and a few towns in nearly 10 districts in each state have been affected in the flood.

At least 33 people, including 22 in Punjab, lost their lives.