Chandigarh Row: Punjab, Haryana Chief Ministers Spar Over States' Capital

Chandigarh, July 11: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has demanded that Chandigarh be made the capital of their state and that Punjab gets a 'new Chandigarh' as their state capital. The demand has sparked a dispute between the two states, which currently share Chandigarh as their joint capital city. As per news reports, Khattar, while speaking at one of the programmes organised for discussing the development of the Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali cities, expressed his desire for the capital city.

Referring to Haryana's water crisis, Khattar was quoted as saying, "More area under the dark zone falls in Haryana than in Punjab, and at some places, the underground water level has gone down to 1,500 feet.”

Besides this, the Haryana CM also mentioned that he has written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to join hands in checking the wasteful flow of Ravi waters to Pakistan by constructing dams and reservoirs, so to utilise the water and solve the crisis in both states. He was further quoted as saying, “The issue of Haryana getting its share of river water through Hansi-Butana Canal is also hanging since long as a result, the southern districts, especially Mahendergarh, Rewari and Nuh, are facing water scarcity."

However, the suggestion has irked the Punjab CM, who has expressed his disappointment over the issue. As per a PTI report, Captain Singh said, "Chandigarh indisputably belonged to Punjab and there was no question of agreeing to Khattar's proposal." Singh further remarked that Haryana being a new state should set up its own capital rather than eyeing Punjab. Furthermore, he also rejected Khattar's earlier suggestion of making the Punjab University a central university.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2018 01:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).