In a surprising turn in the decades-old Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal dispute, both Punjab and Haryana have agreed to adopt a solution-oriented approach, signalling a potential breakthrough in one of India's longest-running inter-state water conflicts.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil, who chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday, revealed that all stakeholders showed a positive and cooperative attitude during the discussions held in Delhi.

“The Government of India is fully committed to supporting both states in achieving a fair and balanced resolution. In the meeting, all parties engaged in open dialogue and expressed their readiness to move forward with constructive discussions,” Paatil announced on social media platform X.

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Chief Ministers Bhagwant Mann (Punjab) and Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana) were present along with senior state and central officials. The meeting was convened by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to address the long-pending legal and political standoff over the canal project, which was originally envisioned to streamline water sharing between the two neighbouring states.

Sources indicate that more technical-level talks are in the pipeline, with both Punjab and Haryana showing readiness to cooperate under the Centre's guidance. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for August to push the discussions further.

With both sides finally opening the door to dialogue, this could mark a turning point in resolving the contentious SYL canal dispute that has eluded consensus for decades.

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