The dispute can be traced back to the Indus Water Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan.
It allowed India free and unrestricted use of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
1966: Creation of Haryana from the old (undivided) Punjab threw up the problem of giving Haryana its share of river waters.
Recently, SC has directed the Chief Ministers of both states to negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue at the highest political level to be mediated by the Centre.
However, Punjab has asked for a tribunal for fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability.
Punjab is unwilling to share water because it is facing severe water crisis due to over-exploitation of its underground aquifers for the wheat/paddy monocycle.
