Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met on January 27, 2026, in Chandigarh. They discussed the long-pending Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, a major water sharing dispute between the two states. The meeting began at a hotel, with senior officers from both governments attending, but is still ongoing. The SYL canal project was planned to share water from the Ravi and Beas rivers. It involves building a 214-km canal: 122 km in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana. Haryana completed its stretch, but Punjab stopped work after starting in 1982. Punjab claims it has no surplus water and wants its rightful share of Indus water. Haryana demands water it says it is missing because the canal is unfinished. The Supreme Court has been involved in the dispute for years. It ruled in favor of Haryana in 2002 and ordered Punjab to build its part. Recently, the court told both states to work with the Centre to find an amicable solution. The next court hearing is set for April 2026. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil arranged previous meetings on this issue, including in July and August 2025. In these talks, Mr. Mann suggested scrapping the SYL canal and using Chenab River water instead. He proposed a Yamuna Sutlej Link canal, saying the Sutlej river has dried up and no water can be shared. Mr. Mann described the SYL canal as an "emotive issue" and said, “Rather, water from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers should be supplied to Punjab through the Sutlej.” Despite talks, the meeting on January 27 remains inconclusive as the impasse continues.