New Delhi, Jan 03: With just twelve days remaining for Punjab to comply with the Supreme Court deadline to complete construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link canal, farmers from Haryana today threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh. In a legal notice sent to Singh by Rashtriya Navachetna Sangharsh Samiti (RNSS), a farmers' organisation, said if he failed to complete the construction of SYL Canal by January 15 in the territory of Punjab, it would initiate contempt of court proceedings against him.

While sending the copies of the notice to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash chautala and chief secretary of Punjab, the RNSS requested the Centre to discharge its "constitutional obligation" in the event of Punjab failing to comply with the apex court's directive. The organisation has also claimed a compensation of Rs 5,000 crore from Punjab to farmers in Haryana for the "damage" caused to them by Amarinder Singh government's "inaction".

The Supreme Court in its order passed on January 15 last year, had given exactly one year to Punjab government to complete the SYL Canal in its territory. However, the Punjab government has filed a petition in the apex court for a review of its decision.

Seeking the Centre's intervention, the farmers body said if Punjab failed to honour the apex court direction, the union government should expedite it through its agencies.

Bureau Report