Probably a few years back, no one could have thought that water could trigger wars between two states and even two countries. It was very much unlikely. Traditionally the wars had been fought over controlling large territories or chunks of land.

1. Unholy Water Wars
Probably a few years back, no one could have thought that water could trigger
wars between two states and even two countries. It was very much unlikely.
Traditionally the wars had been fought over controlling large territories or
chunks of land. A pertinent example are the Mughal wars which were fought
with the purpose of acquiring territories and merging the annexations with the
greater empire. The war fought between India and Pakistan to control or
acquire Kashmir and parts thereof is a recent example among many others
the world over. You would have heard about the wars in the middle east over
control of oil fields, oil that drives economies. Well, in the changed milieu
there is a new reality taking shape now.
With growing population to fend for and limited natural resources at their
disposal, the situation has turned out to be one of potential flashpoint in the
relationship between two states or even two countries that soon find

2. themselves in the midst of conflict over controlling the resources. Going back
in history, in the 1960s when the state of Haryana was carved, out of larger
Punjab were the seeds of conflict sown. In India rivers and water resources
drive local economy, mini civilizations flourish along the river banks. Haryana
found itself high and dry, in the literal sense of the phrase. It did not have
enough water to cater to the needs of its population with the situation turning
even uglier in the present times as the state witnessed population explosion in
recent years.
States of Punjab and Haryana have shown reluctance as well as inability to
resolve their disputes over sharing water resources in order to placate its
people. Consequently, both the states have approached the court to settle
their differences. It is widely speculated that a ‘give and take’ kind of quick fix
solution on part of the governments might prove to be a political folly. Punjab
not wanting to let go off the water resources while Haryana determined to
stake control over it. Years back, a decision was taken to build Sutlej-Yamuna
canal that transported water from rivers of Ravi and Beas to the water starved
Haryana and the work had begun on construction of a canal.

3. The Punjab government unilaterally stopped the construction of the canal and
this vitiated the atmosphere further that derailed the entire job of finding an
amiable solution at the level of the states.
A couple of years back, the Punjab assembly passed a bill to annul that
decision in contravention to the court decision. The canal is 112 Km long that
passes through four districts of Punjab before entering Haryana. According to
the state bill, the land over which canal was built is to be handed back to the
original land owners, thus putting to an end to Haryana’s hopes of receiving
river water in future. Sensing a major public uproar, the states had been
advised to take preventive steps to ward of any violence that might erupt in its
aftermath. The matter has been referred to the honourable Supreme court to
take further decision on the matter. For now, it has asked the states to
maintain status quo on the matter while it is still subjudice. The final decision
is expected soon.