IEP Chandigarh
Union Home Minister, Sh. Amit Shah chaired the 31st meeting of the Northern Zonal Council convened in Amritsar, Punjab, today. During the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal apart from highlighting key issues for regional development, cooperation among the states also advocated for several critical issues including the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) and the Affiliation of Haryana Colleges from Panjab University.
Punjab Governor, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit, Lieutenant Governor, UT of Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, Sh. Vinai Kumar Saxena, Punjab Chief Minister, Sh. Bhagwant Mann, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and representatives of Northern Indian states attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister also underscored the significance of establishing an environment of collaboration among the states to ensure the successful and prompt execution of development projects. He emphasized that by pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and adopting best practices, the states could achieve efficient and effective project execution, ultimately contributing to the growth of the region and the nation as a whole.
The Chief Minister stressed the urgent need to complete the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) canal in the Punjab region. He clarified that water availability and canal construction were distinct issues and should not be conflated. He pointed out that surplus water from rivers such as Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas currently flowed into Pakistan, and constructing SYL would enable the productive utilization of this valuable water resource. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of SYL as an alternative channel, especially in light of the aging Nangal Hydel Channel (NHC).
Sh. Manohar Lal advocated for Haryana colleges in Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar to have the option of affiliating with Panjab University. He highlighted that while Haryana’s share in Panjab University had been discontinued in 1973, reestablishing these affiliations would be in the best interest of students. He stressed the importance of expanding educational opportunities and enhancing the university’s reputation by affiliating more colleges from both Haryana and Punjab.
Reiterating Haryana’s commitment to equitable water sharing and peaceful dispute resolution, the Chief Minister discussed issues related to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). He emphasized the need to address delays in repairing the Dhulkot BBMB sub-station and underscored the importance of raising the banks of the Bhakra Main Line for efficient water resource management.
Sh. Manohar Lal proposed considering Hathnikund as a national project for small hydropower projects. He believed that such a project could have far-reaching impacts on water management and power generation capabilities in the region, warranting detailed discussion.
The Chief Minister also shared Haryana’s innovative approach to demographic data collection through the Parivar Pehchan Patra scheme. This scheme provides real-time demographic data and has created a comprehensive database of every family in the state. This database plays a crucial role in government planning and policy implementation, bridging the gap between data collection and practical application.
Sh. Manohar Lal encouraged other participating states to explore innovative solutions like PPP to strengthen governance and ensure the welfare and prosperity of all citizens.
