Non-riparian Haryana's leadership is suddenly trying to rekindle the defunct SYL canal conspiracy in great haste
Punjabi leadership urged to unite and prepare for Morchas while demanding cash compensation for river waters as recommended in the World Bank's latest report titled, "India's Water Economy - Bracing for a Turbulent Future"
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - he release, in New Delhi last week, of the World Bank's draft report on, "India's Water Economy - Bracing for a Turbulant Future," by Mr. John Briscoe, a World Bank director, (www.worldbank.org) which calls for compensation for those states which give water to other states in India has rekindled the SYL canal conspiracy in Haryana/Delhi, which had been pigeonholed in the prejudiced anti-Sikh, Brahmin-caste-dominated, Indian Supreme Court, for the last fifteen months - since July 12 , 2004 to be precise.Monday July 12, 2004 was the historic date when, 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill, 2004' (which became an 'ACT' after the Punjab Governor's effixed his signature to it on the same day) was unanimously passed by the Punjab assembly, in a rare and historic show of Punjabi unity. The Act canceled all previous agreements on use of Ravi/Beas river waters while allowing the new bill to protect the 'existing FREE use' of water by non-riparian states of Haryana and Rajasthan. Incidentally non-riparian Hindu-majority Rajasthan, under that very generous clause of the July 12, 2004 Punjab Act, still continues to receive - as it has for the past forty years - more water FREE OF CHARGE than water-short, riparian, Sikh Punjab is allowed to use itself. It is a fact that non-riparian Hindu-majority state of Rajasthan has repaid Sikh-majority Punjab, for the later's generosity of FREE water for the past four decades, by passing a 'in-your-eye' law which bans the sale of agricultural land in Rajasthan to any Sikh. This is a glaring example of base ingratitude and rabid Hindu communalism.
Today's column is a wakeup call for the patriotic Punjabi leadership about the 'gathering storm' brewing in the back-rooms of crafty Haryana/Rajasthan politicians to steal Punjab's river waters via the proposed SYL canal.
The 95-page World Bank draft report, released in New Delhi last week (on Wednesday October 05, 2005), faults India's management of the water sector and says, "unless India makes drastic changes, it will have neither the money to maintain and build new infrastructure nor water for its economy and people." Mr. John Briscoe, a former World Bank Senior Water Advisor for South Asia (and currently World Bank director for Brazil) said, during the New Delhi 'Report-release' function, that India would have to change from 'development to management' of water resources. Mr. John Briscoe did not agree with the demand from some States (like Tamil Nadu, Haryana & Rajasthan) for nationalisation of river waters. "That was a wrong way to go," he said.
Mr. Briscoe suggested that, "Instead, there should be clarity on the rules and the rights and entitlements of every State, every district, block and even individual farm holding. The Centre cannot override the interests of the States. But there should be clarity on the rules and entitlements and efficient use of the available waters. Those who give water should be compensated and there should be a contract between the two accompanied by proper regulations.'' On inter-linking of rivers, the World Bank expert said while it might appear logical to transfer water from the surplus to scarce basins, one would have to examine the economic, social and environmental costs.
The 95-page World Bank draft report has further said that, "the gap between tariff and value of irrigation and water supply services fuelled endemic corruption in India. The implicit philosophy has been described as 'Build-Neglect-Rebuild.' This complacency was based on the erroneous assumption that there was limitless groundwater; that the environmental debts (including vanishing wetland and polluted rivers and aquifers) did not seriously constrain human activity, and that the financial liabilities inherent in these systems could continue to grow indefinitely." An important manifestation of the 'breakdown' of the current system, according to the World Bank report, "was the growing severity of water conflicts - between States, between cities and farmers, between industry and villagers, between farmers and the environment, and within irrigated areas. The Bank would fund only those projects that had high priority, high returns and in which environmental and social issues were built."
The World Bank draft report also mentioned the gap between tariff and value of irrigation and water supply services fuelled endemic corruption in India. The implicit philosophy was described as "Build-Neglect-Rebuild." This complacency was based on the erroneous assumption that there was limitless groundwater; that the environmental debts (including vanishing wetland and polluted rivers and aquifers) did not seriously constrain human activity, and that the financial liabilities inherent in these systems could continue to grow indefinitely.
The World Bank’s report on India’s water economy is not the first treatise to caution the country about its turbulent water future. Several global as well as domestic organisations have studied the issue and warned that the water crisis will become insurmountable if remedial action is delayed any longer. The problem is not confined to the limited availability of water, and extends to its indiscriminate use and the rapid deterioration in its quality. The World Bank report rightly warns that if the apathy towards this problem continues, the country will be left with neither the water required by people and for economic growth, nor enough cash to maintain and build new water-harnessing infrastructure.
The World Bank is set to spend $600 million on two mega hydro-projects in the country over the next four years. It is looking at a proposal to fund a second tunnel in the Naphtha Jhakhri project in Himachal Pradesh. The second project is yet to be identified. The Bank recently pledged to raise its water sector loan to India from $200 million to $900 million a year over the next four years.
One would think that it will not be easy for the 'weak' Indian coalition government (described as 'Steering wheel with Sonia, brake with the Leftist parties, and with Manmohan Singh in the driver's seat, for show) to overlook the 'heavy' recommendations/suggestions in the World Bank's draft report on India's Water Economy, mentioned above, as the World Bank recently pledged to raise its water sector loans to India from $200 million to US$. $900 million a year over the next four years. The World Bank is also set to spend $600 million on two mega hydro-projects in the country over the next four years. It is reported to be looking at a proposal to fund a second tunnel in the Naphtha Jhakhri project in Himachal Pradesh. The second project is yet to be identified. It is anybody's guess how these World Bank financed proposals for future projects in upper riparian Himachal Pradesh will effect the water/electricity availibility in lower riparian Punjab!
Diplomatic observers noted on Thursday October 06, 2005 that Mr. John Roscoe's October 05, 2005, presentation, in New Delhi, of the World Bank Report, "India's Water Economy - Bracing for a Turbulent Future" (which subject vitally effects agricultural Sikh Punjab's future) was ignored by most newspapers in India (like Tribune, Chandigarh) with one or two exceptions. The Chennai-based HINDU newspaper was the ONLY exception (www.thehindu.com/2005/10/06/stories/2005100620181400.htm) which honestly reported the Mr. John Roscoe's presentation and headlined it, "Manage water resources: expert," by Gargi Parsai, in marked contrast to the 'half truths' put out by the Indian Express, on October 06, 2005, headlined "World Bank water alarm: Groundwater hits rock bottom," by that newspaper's ENS Economic Bureau.
(www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=79516) The Indian Express completely ignored that part of the World Bank report' which effects Punjab and calls for, "Those who give water should be compensated and there should be a contract between the two accompanied by proper regulations.''
Interestingly, after every body lying low for over six months, all of a sudden, on Thursday October 06, 2005, a day after Mr. John Roscoe's World Bank report's presentation in New Delhi described above, an 'attack' on the SYL issue was launched by INLD (Indian National Lok Dal) Secretary-General and Rajya Sabha member Ajay Singh Chautala. He, "asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to ensure that the Haryana Congress implements its poll promise of having the SYL canal constructed and get the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act repealed," according to the Tribune, Chandigarh.(www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051007/haryana.htm#1)
A day later on October 07, 2005, the national vice-president of the BJP, Mr Kisan Singh Sangwan,BJP criticised the Congress for skipping the sensitive Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal(SYL) issue from the agenda of its two-day Chief Ministers’ conclave, which commenced at Chandigarh on Oct. 07. (www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051008/haryana.htm#2) What seemed to be a coordinated attempt (with the BJP) the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, raised the SYL canal bilateral issue on the opening day of the sixth Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave being held in Chandigarh on October 07, despite that fact that the AICC general secretary, Mrs Ambika Soni, had stated a couple of days ago that no bilateral issues would be raised at the Chandigarh Congress Chief Minister's conclave. (www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051008/haryana.htm#1)
Two days later on October 09, 2005, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president and former Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala, (broke his silence after his defeat in the elections) by demanding, during a press conference held in Kurukshetra, the resignation of the UPA Manmohan Singh government for not taking up the SYL canal issue.(www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051010/haryana.htm#1) A day later n October 10, 2005, Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, declared at a press conference held in Sirsa, that,"he would make concerted efforts on a top priority basis to get the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal completed soonest possible." See report in the HINDU of October 11, 2005, headlined, "Hooda to give top priority to SYL Canal issue." (www.thehindu.com/2005/10/11/stories/2005101105530500.htm) It is obvious a coordinated campaign encompassing different parties has been launched to rake up the dead SYL canal issue.
All of them have wrongly assumed that we Punjabis will not unite, as we did on 12 July 2004, on the water issue and we will miss the recommendations of the World Bank - a powerful institution by any measure - highlighted in its report, "India's Water Economy - Bracing for a Turbulent Future," which calls for, among other things financial compensation for those states, like Punjab, which have been giving river water free of charge to other non-riparian states in India like Rajasthan and Haryana. We Punjabis have not missed this World Bank report which highlights the finding that the demand for water in India would far exceed supply from all sources by 2020.
The World Bank report has also confirmed, what we Punjabis already knew, that, groundwater in the country - specially in the Punjab - is disappearing at an alarming rate, due to indiscriminate bore-welling and unregulated river water transfer to non-riparian states of Rajasthan and Haryana because of which Punjab's three major rivers (Ravi, Beas & Sutlej) have turned into sewers which will lead to an ecological disaster.
Our inside sources have monitored hush hush official meetings in Delhi where the Central government plans of setting up an all powerful All India Water Management Board are being discussed. This new body controlled by the Union government, and overseen by the Indian Supreme Court, will put in place a system for measurement of usage and water entitlement, besides overseeing projects, treaties and disputes like the SYL canal.
Before this All India Water Management Board is debated and legally constituted by the Indian Parliament, our sources in Delhi have picked up scuttlebutt, about the Indian Supreme Court getting active. The apex court is being urged, by certain vested interests, to dust up its pigeonholed file, on the Presidential reference, made on July 22, 2004, under Article 143 (1) of the Constitution, seeking the Supreme court's advisory opinion on the 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004,' which was passed unanimously by the Punjab State Assembly (and signed by the State Governor) on July 12, 2004. The Supreme Court is being urged to strike down 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004,' as it did to an ordinance in the Cauvery case. The last action by the Supreme Court on the above Presidential reference was the issue of notices over fourteen months ago, on August 02, 2004, (to the Center and the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir) by a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice, R.C. Lahoti, and Justices N. Santosh Hegde, Y.K. Sabharwal, Ms. Ruma Pal and S.N. Variava. Since then, the Supreme Court has not found the time to look into this case. The chances are that the Brahmin-caste-dominated Indian Supreme Court, known for its anti-Sikh mindset, will play its part in the conspiracy which is currently being brewed.
The unity of the Punjab leadership bonded with the people of the Punjab, is needed more than ever now, at this point in time. Punjabis should and MUST be ready to come out in the streets to man morchas when the Supreme Court pulls a rabbit out of its hat to do Punjab in on the SYL canal issue based on - it will claim - on Prime minister's Manmohan Singh fraudulently drafted Presidential reference which has not asked the real questions.
We urge all the Punjab leaders to unite and stand up as one, (a la July 12 , 2004, when they passed the 'The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004',) to meet this new challenging conspiracy which plans to steal Punjab's God-given river waters resource for ever with some legal hocuspocus.