Chandigarh: In the wake of the threat by Haryana opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to prevent entry of Punjab government vehicles into the state on July 10 over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal row, the Punjab government has decided not to ply its buses to Delhi and other Haryana routes on the day of the protest to avoid any standoff.

Chandigarh: In the wake of the threat by Haryana opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to prevent entry of Punjab government vehicles into the state on July 10 over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal row, the Punjab government has decided not to ply its buses to Delhi and other Haryana routes on the day of the protest to avoid any standoff.

Even though Haryana and Punjab police are jointly chalking out a strategy to foil the INLD plan, and to ensure the smooth flow of the traffic, the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) will not operate its buses towards Haryana and Delhi. Other operators also likely to follow suit.

“No PRTC bus will go to Delhi and other Haryana routes on July 10 in view of the call by INLD to stop buses of Punjab. This decision has been taken in public interest, as PRTC doesn’t want that any passenger travelling in their bus may face harassment on any count or government property may be damaged,” said MS Narang, managing director of the state-owned PRTC, which runs several luxury buses to the Delhi airport too, besides nearly 200 ordinary buses to Delhi and other major cities of Haryana.

Both state governments have decided to impose section 144 of the CrPC against unlawful assembly in the border districts. Haryana has already demanded 10 companies of paramilitary forces from the Centre. Patiala zone inspector general of police AS Rai held a meeting of officials to review the security arrangements. On Sunday, senior officers from Punjab police HQ will review the arrangements at the Shambhu barrier and other places on the border.

Police fear that radicals may take advantage of the situation and converge over the emotive issue of sharing water with Haryana. On Friday, a joint of the home secretaries and directors general of police of both states, were also held.

Pertinently, Haryana’s main opposition party INLD had announced that its activists will stop vehicles from Punjab at the Shambhu barrier near Ambala to press the state’s demand for construction of the canal, as has been directed by the Supreme Court. Private vehicles would not be stopped during the day-long protest, but INLD has threatened to stop all government vehicles, politicians, and other official vehicles.