Now, another turf war with Punjab

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 5

After the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue, Punjab and Haryana are again on a collision course, with the Haryana Assembly on Thursday vowing to claim its territory, comprising 20 rooms, “illegally occupied” by its neighbouring state in the Punjab and Haryana Vidhan Sabha Complex.

The stage for the fresh confrontation between the two neighbouring states was set following unanimous passage of an official resolution, which called for handing over of the “illegally occupied” portion by Punjab to Haryana.

Moving the resolution, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar regretted that even 54 years after division of the Vidhan Sabha Complex between two states on October 17, 1966, Haryana was yet to get its rightful share of 20 rooms still “unauthorisedly occupied” by Punjab. “We will leave no stone unturned to get back our due share in the Vidhan Sabha Complex,” he said.

Speaker Gian Chand Gupta urged the Punjab Speaker to accede to the demand of handing over 20 rooms as these were needed for use by its employees and political parties.

It was highlighted that of the total area of 66,430 square feet of the Secretariat, Punjab was allotted 30,890 square feet while Haryana was allocated 24,630 square feet. An area of 10,910 square feet was earmarked for the Punjab Vidhan Parishad under the provisions of the Punjab Organisation Act, 1966.