Sutlej Yamuna link canal

For other uses, see SYL.

Sutlej( Saryu ) Yamuna link canal or SYL as it is popularly known, is a 214-kilometer (133 mi) long heavy freight canal in India to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. However, the proposal met obstacles and was referred to the Supreme Court of India.

SYL is being built westwards from near its headwaters through the Punjab region near an ancient caravan route and highlands pass to the navigable parts of the Sutlej-Indus watershed. This will connect the entire Ganges, which flows to the east coast of the subcontinent, with points west (via Pakistan). When completed, the SYL will allow shipping from India's east coast to the west coast and the Arabian sea, drastically shortening shipping distances and creating important commercial links for north-central India's large population. The canal starts near Palla village near Delhi, and was to transfer Haryana's share of 3,500,000 acre-feet (4.3 km³) from the Indus Basin, though state of Haryana has completed its portion, Punjab is against its construction, and the state legislature passed the "Punjab Termination of Agreement Act 2004", which declared earlier agreements null and void. Public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill 2004 has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Act annuls the 1981 Indira Gandhi award and subsequent agreements relating to the distribution of Ravi-Beas waters among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

In his petition C.W.P. No. 11091 of 2004, Mr. Naresh Kumar Kadyan of Rohtak in Haryana has questioned the validity of the Act, passed recently by the Punjab Assembly. He has sought quashing of the Act.

He has also asked that the recent judgement of the Supreme Court regarding the completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal be immediately ordered to be complied with.

References

• Sutlej - Yamuna link