Land acquired for SYL denotified

Chandigarh : The Punjab Government today denotified almost 5,000 acres of land acquired for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. It is learnt to have prepared a Bill defining the ownership, utilisation and remuneration on water. In all probability, the Bill will be presented in the Punjab Assembly tomorrow. This Bill seeks to establish the ownership of water since the re-organisation of states in November 1966. Sources say the Bill could assess and recover cess for use of waters beyond the boundaries of Punjab. The state government could set up an authority to determine the cess to be levied on non-riparian states. Top officials pointed out that water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power came under the State List ( List 2) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Also, Article 262 did not recognise Ravi and Beas as inter-state rivers. The broad parameters of the Bill were discussed today at SAD’s core committee meeting which lasted three hours. Sources say most members were of the opinion that the Bill should be passed in the House tomorrow and that a mere resolution would not do. The Bill is a money Bill and requires the nod of the Governor before being introduced in the House.