Chandigarh: Upping the ante on the Sutlej- Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday announced that it will denotify the land acquired for the project and return it to the “original owners” at no cost.

The move came on the eve of the special session of the Punjab Assembly convened to discuss the issue in the wake of the Supreme Court holding as “unconstitutional” the 2004 law passed by the state government to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.

“The Punjab Council of Ministers today decided in public interest that the land acquired for the SYL canal project, at present vested in the Punjab government, free from all encumbrances, stands denotified with immediate effect and shall forthwith vest in the original land owners of their lineal descendants/legal representatives free of cost,” advisor to CM on national affairs and media Harcharan Bains said. He said the decision “comes into effect immediately and necessary orders are being issued”.

Punjab cabinet announced that it will denotify the land acquired for the project and return it to the “original owners” at no cost.