Majithia congratulates Revenue officials for closing SYL chapter once and for all (Says 4,261 acres of land transferred back to 21,511 farmers)
Chandigarh, November 20 - Punjab Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia today appreciated the commitment of State revenue officials in implementing the decision taken by the cabinet under the leadership of S Parkash Singh Badal and closing the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal chapter forever. In a statement here, Mr Majithia said Punjabis owed a debt of gratitude to the revenue officials of four districts of Mohali, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahab and Ropar for working with breakneck speed to turn the cabinet decision into realty. "As of today all land acquired for construction of the SYL canal which had been denotified by the State cabinet, has been transferred back to the original farmers free of cost through mutations". Mr Majithia said 4,261 acres of land in 202 villages in the four districts had been transferred back to 21,511 farmers. He said in Ropar 1468 acres of land had been transferred back to 5180 owners across 91 villages. In Fatehgarh Sahib 552 acres of land had been transferred back to 2031 owners of 35 villages. Similarly in Mohali 791 acres of land had been transferred back to 1323 owners of 16 villages. In Patiala district 1450 acres of land had been transferred back to 5774 owners spread over 60 villages. The Akali leader said the manner in which the SAD-BJP government had moved to protect the interests of farmers proved that where there was a will there was a way. "Chief Minister S Parkash Singh Badal has promised Punjabis that the SYL canal will never be constructed. By successfully transferring land back to the farmers we have proved that we do not make empty proclamations like the Congress whose Punjab leaders have been giving lip sympathy to farmers even as the party high command has always sided with Haryana on the SYL issue". Mr Majithia said Amarinder's admittance at a function while celebrating the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi yesterday that he was present at the site in Kapoori when the PM formally inaugurated digging of the SYL canal was proof of his guilt and complicity in the conspiracy to give Punjab's waters to Haryana. He said now Amarinder should come clean and also apologies to Punjabi farmers for welcoming Indira Gandhi through newspaper advertisements and a silver spade on the occasion. This is the only way he can wash away his sins for standing besides Indira Gandhi when she used a silver spade to rob the people of Punjab of the bounties of her river waters". Mr Majithia said the PCC president had also expressed helplessness that he had to attend the function when Indira Gandhi came to Kapoori to start digging of the SYL canal. "Does it mean that you (Amarinder) will again act as an ADC to Rahul Gandhi if he wants to give Punjab's river waters to Haryana? You have already proven your desperation to hold on to your chair by giving a clean chit to Delhi Sikh massacre accused Jagdish Tytler on the orders of Rahul Gandhi. How can Punjabis ever repose trust in you again?", he asked adding the only recourse open to Amarinder was to quit the Congress.
