Chandigarh: Accusing Punjab of running a
campaign blaming it for floods in its territory, Haryana today
sought the Centre`s intervention over the issue and defended
construction of the Hansi-Butana link canal.
"I had recently met Union Water Resources Minister Pawan
Kumar Bansal..we have no problem if Centre steps in. We will
welcome it. Punjab has to stop this campaign blaming us for
their floods," Haryana`s Finance and Irrigation Minister, Ajay
Singh Yadav told reporters here.
The current spell of floods in the two neighbouring states
has so far claimed 33 lives and caused an estimated loss of
nearly Rs 1,500 crore.
Both the sides have been trading charges blaming each
other for the floods.
Punjab`s Deputy Chief Minister and head of the ruling
Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal had alleged that the
construction of Hansi Butana multi-purpose canal in Haryana
was causing floods in his state.
Yadav said that Punjab`s Chief Secretary S C Agarwal had
recently written a letter to his Haryana counterpart Urvashi
Gulati, stating that construction of Hansi Butana canal was
simply a case of "criminal negligence, constructed illegally
and against the natural flow of water and should be dismantled
immediately".
"The Haryana Government has taken strong objection to the
language used by Punjab`s Chief Secretary. The Supreme Court
also did not stay Hansi Butana canal`s construction on
Punjab`s plea. Even the Central Water Commission gave its go
ahead to the canal construction. And now they are using such
language, which is condemnable," he said.
He said that Punjab should stop putting the blame on
Haryana and instead the two states should immediately start
joint patrolling of the "troubled spots" along the SYL canal
to avoid repeat of the floods in future, set up control rooms
and exchange information on a regular basis.
PTI
