📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Subhashish Panigrahi
Politics
Supreme Court Hearing: Punjab, Haryana Claim Progress on Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Dispute
✍️ Bar and Bench
🗓 12 Aug 2026, 02:18 PM
👁 2
Punjab and Haryana have informed the Supreme Court that steps are being taken to resolve the long‑standing Sutlej‑Yamuna Link Canal dispute, according to Bar and Bench.
Punjab and Haryana have approached the Supreme Court with a statement that they are moving closer to a resolution of the Sutlej‑Yamuna Link Canal (SYLC) dispute, the two states’ long‑running conflict over water sharing.
The SYLC, which would divert water from the Sutlej River to the Yamuna basin, has been a point of contention since the 1980s, with both states citing concerns over water security and agricultural needs. In a filing presented to the court, the governments highlighted recent negotiations and technical studies that suggest a feasible plan for the canal’s construction and operation.
The filing, submitted by the Punjab and Haryana governments, also mentioned that both states have agreed on key parameters such as the canal’s alignment, capacity, and the allocation of water. It further states that the states have engaged hydrological experts and have drafted a memorandum of understanding to formalise the project. The Supreme Court’s intervention has been crucial in ensuring that the dispute is addressed within the framework of the Constitution and the Water Resources Act.
If the court accepts the progress report, it could pave the way for the construction of the SYLC, which is expected to benefit millions of farmers in both states by providing a reliable water source for irrigation. The project has also been highlighted in the National Water Policy as a strategic initiative to enhance inter‑state water cooperation.
The next hearing is scheduled for the coming weeks, during which the Supreme Court will examine the technical and legal aspects of the proposed plan. Both Punjab and Haryana have expressed optimism that the court’s decision will bring an end to the decades‑long dispute.
The SYLC, which would divert water from the Sutlej River to the Yamuna basin, has been a point of contention since the 1980s, with both states citing concerns over water security and agricultural needs. In a filing presented to the court, the governments highlighted recent negotiations and technical studies that suggest a feasible plan for the canal’s construction and operation.
The filing, submitted by the Punjab and Haryana governments, also mentioned that both states have agreed on key parameters such as the canal’s alignment, capacity, and the allocation of water. It further states that the states have engaged hydrological experts and have drafted a memorandum of understanding to formalise the project. The Supreme Court’s intervention has been crucial in ensuring that the dispute is addressed within the framework of the Constitution and the Water Resources Act.
If the court accepts the progress report, it could pave the way for the construction of the SYLC, which is expected to benefit millions of farmers in both states by providing a reliable water source for irrigation. The project has also been highlighted in the National Water Policy as a strategic initiative to enhance inter‑state water cooperation.
The next hearing is scheduled for the coming weeks, during which the Supreme Court will examine the technical and legal aspects of the proposed plan. Both Punjab and Haryana have expressed optimism that the court’s decision will bring an end to the decades‑long dispute.