Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Punjab, Haryana near resolution of decades-old SYL dispute
Two states in India, Punjab and Haryana, have been arguing for a very long time about how to share water from two rivers.
Many years ago, they made a deal to build a big canal so the water could be shared fairly.
Haryana built its part of the canal, but Punjab never finished its part.
They kept going to court, and the top court in India, the Supreme Court, has been trying to help them fix the problem.
This week, the court heard that the two states are finally coming closer to an agreement.
The government's top lawyer said they are now speaking in a "joint voice" and Punjab is much more willing to cooperate.
The judges were happy about the progress, with the Chief Justice saying that once the heart opens, the door also opens.
The court agreed to wait and will hear the case again on August 20 or the week after.
If the talks work, the long water fight between the two states could finally come to an end.
The Supreme Court was told that Punjab and Haryana are moving closer to an amicable resolution of their decades-old dispute over Ravi-Beas waters sharing and the SYL Canal.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani said the two states now speak in a "joint voice" and Punjab had shown much greater willingness to resolve the dispute.
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant adjourned the matter to August 20 or the following week to allow the talks to continue.
The dispute dates to the 1966 reorganisation of Punjab and the 1981 water-sharing agreement involving Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan; Haryana built its canal stretch while Punjab's remains incomplete.
The Supreme Court struck down Punjab's 2004 law terminating the agreement in 2016 and ordered status quo on canal land in 2017 after Punjab returned it to owners.
- Who
- Punjab, Haryana, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal.
- What
- Progress towards an amicable resolution of the decades-old dispute over Ravi-Beas waters sharing and the unfinished Punjab stretch of the SYL Canal.
- When
- Wednesday's hearing; the matter is to be taken up again on August 20 or the following week.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- Haryana's 1996 suit seeks completion of the SYL Canal so Haryana can receive its share of Ravi-Beas waters.
Punjab's position
Haryana's position
SYL Canal construction
Punjab's position
Punjab has not completed its stretch of the canal; it passed a law in 2004 ending the water-sharing agreement and returned canal land to its original owners.
Haryana's position
Haryana completed its stretch and has sought the canal's completion through a 1996 suit so it can receive its share of Ravi-Beas waters.
The 1981 water-sharing agreement
Punjab's position
Punjab moved to terminate the agreement unilaterally in 2004.
Haryana's position
Haryana and the Centre treat the agreement as binding; the Supreme Court declared Punjab's 2004 law unconstitutional in 2016.
Canal land de-notification
Punjab's position
Punjab de-notified acquired land and returned it to original landowners.
Haryana's position
The Supreme Court called the de-notification "high-handedness" and directed status quo on the land in 2017.
- Dispute
- Sharing of Ravi-Beas waters and construction of the Punjab stretch of the SYL Canal
- Parties
- Punjab and Haryana, with the Centre assisting talks
- Haryana's suit filed
- 1996
- Origin
- 1966 reorganisation of Punjab and creation of Haryana
- Key agreement
- 1981 water-sharing agreement
- 2004 Punjab law
- Unilaterally terminated the 1981 agreement; struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional in 2016
- Status quo order
- 2017, on canal land returned by Punjab to original landowners
- Next hearing
- August 20 or the following week