SYL is also called the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal. It is a canal that is under construction in India. This canal is about 214 kilometers (Ghuman, 2017). It was constructed to connect the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers. Once the canal will be completed, it is expected to divert the excess water from river Satluj to the areas with scarce water such as Rajasthan and Haryana. SYL is a project that was proposed in 1970s (Ghuman, 2017). In 1981, a treaty that involved how the water would be shared from the canal was signed. This treaty was signed between Haryana and Punjab. Even if the canal will be important to the two states, it has raised various disputes and controversies. Some people continue to oppose the construction of the canal while others feel that it is beneficial. This paper presents some of the arguments regarding the SYL.
The SYL tend to have both advantages and disadvantages based on different arguments. Some people argue that the canal will negatively affect the Punjab state. Others propose that the canal is significant for provision of water in different states. I will based my argument on the importance of the canal on different states. The canal has various benefits to Rajasthan and Haryana. First, the state of Rajasthan and Haryana experience shortage of water. Therefore, the completion of the canal will provide adequate water for the two states. Even if the canal is not yet completed, it is clear that the two states are using the water. Since the canal has not been completed, Haryana is said to use about 1.62 MAF of water (Khurana, 2020). Punjab on the other hand is said to illegally use about 1.9 MAF of Haryana’s water share (Khurana, 2020). The use of water from the canal has greatly benefited the two states. Water shortage has been solved even if the states have not managed to conduct irrigation. The basic water uses challenges have been greatly addressed.
The second benefit of the SYL canal is that it has encouraged an equitable water distribution. In Pakistan, there is excess water which comes from river Satluj river. In other states like Rajasthan and Haryana, there is shortage of water (Khalid, 2020). This shows there is unequal distribution of resources such as water. The construction of the canal is important to address the inequality issue. Instead of wasting large amount of water in Pakistan, the canal has helped to conserve the excess water. The conserved water has greatly solved the water problems in the two states. when the canal will be complete, I believe that the states will have sufficient water. They will use the water to grow different crops which will help develop the economy of the country. Productivity in Haryana and Rajasthan will be boosted greatly.
Some people argue that directing the water from Punjab to the SYL canal is likely to affect the state (Sanyal et al., 2022). Since Punjab is a great agricultural state, some people argue that it will be affected. They claim that the state will have a reduced water flow. In turn, people in the state will not manage to produce more agricultural products. However, this argument tends to be false. This is because the aim of the canal is to collect the excess water from river Punjab. Therefore, the canal will not affect the supply of water in the state. Punjab will continue with its irrigation activities as usual. It should be understood that if Punjab will not have excess water, the SYL canal will in turn not collect the water. Therefore, the construction of the canal didn’t aim to collect the water from the river but instead it aimed at collecting the excess water being wasted in Pakistan.
Mostly, the opposition against the construction of the SYL canal is contributed by the government. For instance, a study that was conducted by the state government of Punjab showed that most of the areas in the state would run dry by 2029 (Rosencranz et al., 2022). The result of the study also showed that large amount of water has been utilized in the state. The Punjab state is mostly involved in irrigation of crops such as paddy and wheat. The report also showed that the amount of water that is over-exploited in the state accounts for about 79 percent of the water in the state (Rosencranz et al., 2022). In such a state, the state government argues that it is impossible to share water with the two states.
The government of Punjab is selfish. It claims the impossibility of sharing the water with other states yet the water in Punjab is more than enough. The state government doesn’t consider the fact that there is water shortage in Rajasthan and Haryana. Even if the government claims a possibility of dryness by 2029 in the state, it should consider sharing the water with the states before the predicted period arrives (Raimi et al., 2019). I think if the states are notified of the expected situation in 2029, they will have found possible solution to the water shortage before that time. For instance, sharing the water with the states will help them plant more trees which will reduce the dryness on the lands by encouraging more rains. Therefore, even if the canal will help the states for a short period, it will be very important. Most importantly, hunger and poverty will be reduced in these areas through crop production and other types of farming.
In addition to assisting Rajasthan and Haryana conduct farming, sharing of water will enhance peace, unity, and collaboration among the three states. The major responsibility of enhancing peace among the states should be conducted by the government (Singla et al., 2020). The state government of Punjab should allow the sharing of water with the states. Allowing the water sharing will eliminate the bad attitudes of people from Punjab. This will help the people to develop a kind heart. In turn, citizens in Punjab will collaborate with those from Rajasthan and Haryana. The collaboration will have various benefits to the states.
First, water among the states will be shared equally. Since the states will be united, thy will agree on the amount of water each will use. Secondly, there will be no more wastage or misuse of water (Bedi & Singh, 2021). Since water will be well utilized in farms and other sectors, there will be no opportunities for wastage. The water will be used sparingly to produce the best outcomes. Thirdly, sharing of water will reduce the disputes among the states. Consequently, the states will stay united.
In conclusion, the idea of constructing the SLY canal is important. This is because it benefits both Rajasthan and Haryana state. Wastage of water in Pakistan will also be reduced. This is because the excess water will be shared among the two states. In turn, the states will focus on agriculture which will help to improve the economy. Even though some people argue that sharing the water with the states will affect irrigation in Punjab, I believe this is not the case the SLY canal aims to collect the excess water from river Punjab. Therefore, it will not affect the irrigation in Punjab in any way. The allowance of construction of the canal will enhance peace, collaboration, and unity among the states. Therefore, the SLY canal is beneficial to Pakistan, Rajasthan and Haryana.
References
Ghuman, R. S. (2017). Water Use Scenario in Punjab: Beyond the Sutlej—Yamuna Link Canal. Economic and Political Weekly, 52(3), 34-37.
Khurana, I. (2020). The Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal: Bogged Down by Politics and Litigation. In Water Conflicts in India (pp. 388-393). Routledge India.
Khalid, I. (2020). Interstate Water Politics: An Analysis of Indian Case Water Governance in India.
Sanyal, S., Ghosh, S., & Prakash, S. (2022). A Strategic Analysis of River-Water Conflict in India: A Case Study Approach. Social Work, 11(1), 48-47.
Rosencranz, A., Puthucherril, T. G., Tripathi, S., & Gupta, S. (2022). Groundwater management in India’s Punjab and Haryana: a case of too little and too late?. Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 40(2), 225-250.
Raimi, M. O., Adedotun, A. T., Emmanuel, O. O., & Anu, B. (2019). An analysis of bayelsa state water challenges on the rise and its possible solutions. Raimi Morufu Olalekan., et al. An Analysis of Bayelsa State Water Challenges on the Rise and Its Possible Solutions’. Acta Scientific Agriculture, 3(2019), 110-125.
Singla, S., Ankita, K. R., & MR, D. (2020). Modelling the Change in River Water Allocation Using Bayesian Networks: A Case Study of SYL Canal. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci, 8(1), 318-328.
Bedi, H. S., & Singh, S. (2021, November). Overview of the various factors impacting the distribution of river water of Punjab, India. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 889, No. 1, p. 012079). IOP Publishing.
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