By IANS,
Ferozepur (Punjab) : Former Punjab chief minister and state Congress president Amarinder Singh Tuesday questioned the silence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the construction of a concrete wall by Haryana along the controversial Hansi-Butana canal.
“The construction of a concrete wall along the canal in Haryana is illegal and in contempt of Supreme Court orders. The silence of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the issue is criminal negligence on his part and it amounts to compromising the interests of the state,” Amarinder Singh told reporters here.
The Hansi-Butana canal, constructed by Haryana, is a controversial issue between both states as Haryana is seeking more water from Punjab to flow in it so that it can reach areas in the parched southwestern part of the state.
Punjab has refused to spare any more water, saying that it did not have enough water itself.
The Punjab government, headed by Amarinder Singh in 2004, had terminated the water sharing agreement with Haryana and other states.
Singh pointed out that the Supreme Court was yet to decide on the issue of the sharing of the water.
“Until the Supreme Court does not take a final decision in the case, it is illegal to construct the concrete walls on the canal,” he said.
He expressed surprise that Badal was not approaching the Supreme Court for stopping the construction of the wall.