The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, made it clear that its verdict allowing construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal has to be executed and asked Haryana and Punjab to maintain law and order "at any cost", in view of a proposed protest by a political outfit over the inter-state water row.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Haryana's main opposition party, has asked its workers to gather at Ambala on Thursday and march inside Punjab, to start digging the SYL canal.
The bench said that the decree and orders passed by the apex court, allowing the SYL canal, have to be executed and the canal has to be built.
Amid the escalating tension over the sensitive issue, Punjab has deployed 10 companies of paramilitary forces and nearly 5,000 policemen near villages located on its border with Haryana, officials said.
Haryana too has deployed five companies of paramilitary forces, besides police in adequate strength to ensure that the law and order is not disturbed.
The court said its earlier interim order of status quo will continue till further orders and fixed the case for further hearing on 2 March, while again rejecting Punjab's submission that the case be listed after the poll results.
(With inputs from PTI)
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