Punjab assures Haryana of action on canal breaches

CHANDIGARH - The Punjab government Monday assured Haryana that it will take steps to ensure that no cuts are made in the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal which could lead to flooding in Haryana.

The assurance was given by Deputy Commissioner of Patiala in Punjab Deepinder Singh during a telephonic conservation with his counterpart in Ambala in Haryana Samir Pal Srow.

Singh said that all existing breaches in the SYL canal had been plugged and assured that care would be taken in future to ensure that such situations did not arise again which force the people to face the wrath of floods.

Ambala, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts in Haryana faced flood fury last week following major breaches in the canal in both states.

Haryana had earlier blamed Punjab for not taking effective steps to prevent people from making cuts in the SYL canal and diverting the water of the Ghaggar river, which was in spate, into the canal. This led to flooding in three Haryana districts.

Srow said that a joint meeting of both deputy commissioners would be held soon and they would also visit the affected area falling in the territories of both the states.

The Indian Army’s sub-area commander Brigadier A.P Bam said Monday that soldiers were providing relief material to the affected people.

He said: “The army is extending all help to people on the request of the district administration in this time of crisis. The army is engaged in the rescue and relief work, including road repair to resuming connectivity.”