Chandigarh, Dec 04: Haryana has asked Centre to ensure the completion of Sutlej Yamuna Link canal in case Punjab government failed to complete it by January 15, as directed by the Supreme Court. Addressing a public meeting at Mokhra in Rohtak district today, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said he had urged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that in case the Punjab government did not get the SYL canal completed as per the apex court's directions, the Centre should ensure its completion either border roads organisation or by any other agency.

The chief minister accused the Congress of not taking interest in getting the canal completed when the party was in power (both in the state and at the Centre) causing a "loss of Rs 500 crore to the state exchequer", an official released said here "Also, the precious water has been flowing to Pakistan, instead of irrigating the fields in Haryana. This is a great national loss," Chautala said after inaugurating an augmentation water supply scheme constructed at a cost of Rs one crore.

While Punjab has maintained that it has no "surplus" water to be given, Haryana says after the completion of SYL canal, 7.5 lakh acres of its cultivable land would be irrigated. Chautala also dismissed the charges of profligacy on his government saying foreign tips were undertaken to attract FDI to ensure development of the state. Bureau Report