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Beyond Debt Traps: The Co-Production of China-Latin America Relations
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In Washington, Chinese ambitions and initiatives in Latin America are usually framed as problematic for U.S. interests. Different narratives prevail in the region itself, where actors have been both skeptical of Chinese motivations and, at times, grateful for Chinese involvement. Chinese policy actors have also approached the region with a range of motivations. These differing but often intersecting interests of Latin American and Chinese stakeholders are continuously shaping the fortunes of Sino-Latin American diplomacy.
Building on her previous work on China's local-level engagement across Latin America, Margaret Myers' forthcoming book project explores the complex and intersecting fabric of actors and institutions, each with disparate motivations, that are shaping the China-Latin America dynamic at present. Through a series of journalistic renderings, this book will showcase some of the individuals, communities, civil society organizations, and myriad other actors responsible for crafting China-Latin America commercial and diplomatic ties.
Kissinger Institute on China and the United States
The Kissinger Institute works to ensure that China policy serves American long-term interests and is founded in understanding of historical and cultural factors in bilateral relations and in accurate assessment of the aspirations of China’s government and people. Read more
The Brazil Institute—the only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington—works to foster understanding of Brazil’s complex reality and to support more consequential relations between Brazilian and U.S. institutions in all sectors. Read more
Latin America Program
The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more
Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.


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IDEA 2004: Building the Legacy
Part C (birth - 2 years old)
Note: This document has been delivered to the Office of the Federal Register but has not yet been scheduled for publication. The official version of this document is the document that is published in the Federal Register.
plan be established in a child’s IFSP not fewer than 90
days (and at the discretion of all parties, not more than 9
months) before a toddler’s third birthday. The “not fewer
than 90 days” component of this requirement aligns the
timeline for transition planning with the timeline for the
SEA and LEA notification requirements in §303.209(b) and
with the timeline for the transition conference for toddlers with disabilities potentially eligible for Part B
services in §303.209(c), pursuant to section 637(a)(9)(A)
(ii)(II) of the Act.
The outer limit of this timeline (i.e., “not more than
9 months” before the toddler’s third birthday) is intended
to protect toddlers, whose needs change frequently at this
age. The Department’s position is that if transition
planning occurs more than nine months prior to a toddler’s
third birthday, this planning may not accurately reflect the needs of the child at the time of transition. For this reason, the regulations only allow the parties to establish a transition plan for a child not earlier than nine months
prior to the child’s third birthday.
Comment: One commenter recommended deleting “as
appropriate” from §303.209(d)(3), which requires,
consistent with §303.344(h), that the transition plan in

domain: law


Love Island fans have been left seriously confused after claiming that one of the Casa Amor girls has “gone missing” from this year’s show.
Bombshell Danielle Mazhindu is one of the six new girls to appear on the show over the last few days as the islanders were split up by gender.
With the girls heading off to a new, separate villa, they were introduced to six new boys while the main villa were introduced to five – as one of these was dumped islander Molly Marsh making her return.
But it seems that Danielle has “disappeared” from the Casa Amor villa after she was seen entering, but never again since.
The Liverpool native has been given very little screentime since arriving in the villa, with one fan taking to Twitter to say: “bro where is this girl?? I haven’t even seen her in the background #LoveIsland.”
Another said: “Danielle got only five seconds of screen time, I don’t remember what she even said!”
A third added: “Someone please tell where Danielle is. I don’t even know what she sounds like.”
While a fourth added: “I’m sorry but has someone accidentally locked Danielle somewhere in the villa.”
The news comes as fans fear Ella and Catherine are set to recouple with Ouzy and Elom and will leave Tyrique and Scott devastated over their decision.
The two have been getting to know the boys while Tyrique and Scott have opted to stay loyal during their time away from their couple.
When it comes to further predictions, fans are already convinced that Zach will recouple with Molly, who returned to the show for Casa Amor despite being dumped from the villa a week before.
With this being the likely outcome, it means that Kady will be left single if she chooses to stick with Zach.


A Ghanaian citizen who has identified himself as Adegbule Ola Durojaiy based in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ghana has written to the Appointments Committee of Parliament not to approve Defense Minister-designate, Dominic Nitiwul.
Mr. Durojaiy says Mr. Nitiwul peddled untruths before the Committee when he appeared before it for his vetting last week.
According to him, Mr. Nitiwul claimed during his vetting that some Ghanaian soldiers who were cited for smuggling of arms had been punished, but that was false.
Durojaiy in his letter said the officers were currently walking free, although they were due to face court-martial.
He said the personnel were on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon when they were caught in the illegal acts.
“In a course of the operation, it was established Lt Col. Isaac Twum Ampofo, who had bought a second-hand car engine, concealed three Pistols, in the engine in the Sump and one Pistol in the back of a Microwave. Both of them admitted smuggling the weapons into the country. Summary of evidence and Pre-trial advised that the two should be Court Martial but all of them have been left-off-the-hook and are walking free,” he said in his letter.
According to the claimant, who describes himself as a private investigator said he personally financed the investigation and so finds it disappointing that the persons indicted have not been punished.
“It is interesting to note that these men are being protected from Court Martial.”
“To the best of my knowledge, after investigation and summary of evidence, there was a pre-trial advice by the legal department of the Ghana Armed Forces dated March 2020 for the alleged culprits to be Court Martial but they have not been tried. It therefore cannot be true what the Minister-designate stated during his vetting that they have been punished. Interestingly, most of the armed robbers in Ghana before 2017 until they were arrested, had Bruni MOD 92 this is also verifiable.”
Adegbule Ola Durojaiy said one of the persons identified in the smuggling ring confirmed gifting some items including a thread mill and a cooker to Mr. Nitiwul and there was evidence to back the claim.
He said the officer recently uploaded photos of himself and the Dominic Nitiwul on Facebook confirming that the two at least had a certain relationship for which reason Mr. Nitiwul is not getting them punished.
“If all these cannot qualify for irregularities, if concealing weapons in the Engine of a car and that of the back of a Microwave cannot be described as smuggling for which Hon. Dominic Nitiwul sees nothing wrong, then it is unfortunate and such a person must not be allowed to be a Minister in Ghana. None of the Soldiers have been punished as he claimed,” Durojaiy added.


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Thursday, April 20, 2017
Governor Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND – Governor McAuliffe today announced that, following a thorough legal review of the case, he will commute the death sentence of Ivan Teleguz to life imprisonment without parole. Teleguz’s request for a pardon will be denied. Teleguz was convicted in the murder-for-hire of Stephanie Yvonne Sipe in July 2001. He was scheduled to be executed on April 25.
Announcing his decision at the Virginia State Capitol today, Governor McAuliffe delivered the following statement (as prepared):
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us. I am joined today by my Secretary of Public Safety, Brian Moran, and my Counsel, Carlos Hopkins, both of whom have devoted countles
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
ROANOKE, VA – Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group today announced the abandoned Huff Lane Elementary School and its 5.3-acres adjacent to Valley View Mall transferred from the City of Roanoke to NDRA II, LLC, a regional hotel and hospitality development company.
The purchaser, NDRA II, LLC, will commence development of the property immediately. The first phase of development will include a “Home-2-Suites”, a new Hilton Hotel product that has launched in other markets very successfully. Construction will also begin shortly on a new Mexican restaurant operated by the local El Rodeo / El Toreo group which will mark the growing brand’s first Valley View location. The new +/- 7,000 SF restaurant will feature a private dining area and outdoor patio for customers to enjoy.
“We are very proud of the significant role our firm played in making this redevelopment possible” commented Dennis Cronk, President/CEO of Poe & Cronk. “Efforts to make this a successful project began nearly two and a half years ago, and have now produced the $1.735M in sale proceeds which will go directly to funding new construction projects needed at nearby Round Hill Elementary School. In addition, the project, once completed, is anticipated to generate over $1,000,000 in additional tax revenue every year and provide needed new jobs for our city” according to Cronk.
Dennis Cronk and Matt Huff of Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group represented the developer in its transaction with the City. Thom Hubard of Poe & Cronk represented the purchaser of the restaurant site. Cronk and Huff also represented the developer as the Seller of the restaurant site.
Posted By Valerie Garner

domain: news


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Yanks seek to start new road streak
Friday night’s loss to the Mets at Citi Field ended the Yankees’ road winning streak at seven, their longest such stretch since they won eight in a row June 24-July 9, 2009. The five runs they allowed in the first inning was the most they have allowed in the opening inning of a game since July 14 last year when the Blue Jays scored eight runs (three earned) off Bartolo Colon in a 16-7 Toronto victory.
The Elias Sports Bureau reported that the Yankees became the last team in the majors to allow more than four runs in any inning this season. It was only the third time in Andy Pettitte’s 487 regular-season starts that he allowed at least five runs in the first inning. The other times were Sept. 4, 2001 at Toronto – five runs – and Aug. 21, 1995 at Oakland – six runs.
Clay Rapada’s impressive stretch of 21 consecutive batters held hitless was ended in the eighth inning when Mets second baseman Justin Turner doubled. Rapada has set down each of the past 16 left-handed batters he has faced and has limited lefty swingers to a .137 batting average in 51 at-bats for the season with just two extra-base hits, one double and one home run.
The Yankees’ 27 errors this season are the fewest in the majors. They also lead the majors with a .989 fielding percentage. In Joe Girardi’s term as manager since 2008, the Yankees have combined for a .986 fielding percentage, the best in the American League and second in the majors only to the Phillies’ .989.
Ivan Nova entered Saturday night’s start with a 12-game winning streak on the road. The club record for consecutive road victories is 15. It was set over the 1936 and ’37 seasons by Monte Pearson and tied over the 1948 and ’49 seasons by Allie Reynolds. Russ Ford of the old New York Highlanders won 13 straight road decisions over the 1910 and ’11 seasons.


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Louis Vuitton exhibited its new watch collection in a beautiful mansion near the city center of Basel this year again. Among the treasures was a new flying tourbillon, the Tambour eVolution Tourbillon Volant, distinguished by a bridge designed in a stylized “V” motif that was invented by Gaston Vuitton in 1901 to adorn his famous Steamer Bag.
The case is made of pink gold, with an MMC (Metal Matrix Composite) middle, a ceramic/aluminum alloy. It has an automatic movement, Caliber LV81 by La Fabrique du Temps, with a 40-hour power reserve.
Another major introduction this year is the Escale World Timer, a colorful, original world timer with no hands. It works by means of three discs, one with a day/night indicator, one with minutes and one with the world’s 24 cities. The hour is indicated in the reference city. The disks are hand painted using acryllic paints in 38 colors, a process that takes 50 hours for each dial. It has a peripheral rotor, which can be seen through the caseback, rotating around a large “LV” in frosted glass. The case features corner pieces that are reminiscent of Louis Vuitton trunks – an element that features in several of the brand’s new watches this year. The movement was made by La Fabrique du Temps exclusively for Louis Vuitton.
Another hit was the Tambour Spin Time Regatta Titanium, a visual regatta timer with a five-minute countdown timer – conforming to the new America’s Cup rules that dictate a five-minute start. The movement, Caliber LV156, was made by La Fabrique du Temps, and is also a chronograph. The five-minute countdown is indicated on the dial by five rotating cubes. The watch is unique in that the three dials work together to time two races and then track the difference between the two times.
The Tambour Twin Chrono Grand Sport is a dual chronograph also allows two competitors to be timed separately and then shows the difference between their times at the finish line. The movement, Caliber LV 175, was also made by La Fabrique du Temps, and functions by use of a three-level column wheel.
Louis Vuitton paid further homage to the structural elements of its trunks on the new ladies’ Emprise, incorporating them into the case side. The dial of the watch is designed to reflect the padding that protects the inside of the trunks. It was presented in both steel and gold versions, both set with diamonds. They contain quartz movements.
The Damier Absolu is another ladies’ dazzler, with either a mother-of-pearl marquetry or full diamond dial, surrounded by three rows of tapered baguette diamonds on an oversized bezel. Versions include either a diamond set bracelet or a white or pink strap. It is also quartz.
Finally, last year the brand introduced the ladies Tambour Monogram Tourbillon in pink gold, and this year presented a white gold version, with a mother-of-pearl dial and a bezel set with diamonds.

domain: artistic


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President Macron has insisted his government will reintroduce national service in France despite warnings that it will prove a financial and legal minefield.
Benjamin Griveaux, the French government’s spokesman, said Mr Macron was bent on implementing his presidential election campaign pledge to introduce a month-long national service for all young people.
The promise, 17 years after conscription was ended in France, was welcomed by many voters but has generated disquiet among ministers charged with putting it into practice.
In a sign of cabinet tensions, Florence Parly, the defence minister, said the new national service could not be made obligatory, but she was contradicted by Gérard Collomb, the interior minister.
Mr Griveaux sought to end the dispute, coming down on Mr Collomb’s side and saying it…


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National signing day is here! The past two years have featured less eventful signing days due to the early signing period implemented in 2017, however this year’s signing day still has a lot of intrigue given how coach Matt Wells’ first class has been put together As of now there are 12 players signed with the Red Raiders, and four additional players are committed. Here’s the list of those that have signed with the team already:
OT Trevor Roberson: Wellington, Texas
TE Simon Gonzales: Magnolia, Texas
SDE Gilbert Ibeneme: Pearland, Texas
OT Landon Peterson: Odessa, Texas
TE Travis Koontz: Ventura, California (JC)
DB Alex Hogan: Houston, Texas
WR Trey Cleveland: Arlington, Texas
WR Cameron Cantrell: Whitehouse, Texas
LB Tyrique Matthews: Houston, Texas
LB Bryce Robinson: Sachse, Texas
QB Maverick McIvor: San Angelo, Texas
DE Tony Bradford Jr.: Houston, Texas
All the Glory goes to God! I’m officially a student athlete for Texas Tech University. Time to work‼ #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/4NcovUN2MR— Tony Bradford Jr. (@Tbradford97) February 6, 2019
The three-star defensive end from Houston will hope to bring the same winning attitude that he brought to the national champion North Shore Mustangs.
DE Quinton Williams: Houston, Texas
Officially committed #gunsup #wreckem #lilQ #TTU pic.twitter.com/SCxR4TheXI— Quinton Williams (@Quinton2384) February 6, 2019
6⃣-5⃣ on the D-Line.— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) February 6, 2019
Welcome home, Quinton Willams!
#WreckEm | #19Guns⚫ pic.twitter.com/zwT1bzizNo
We have a bit of a surprise as three-star defensive end Quinton Williams has committed and signed with the program this morning.
P Austin McNamara: Gilbert, Arizona
Bringing the top boot in the country to the 8⃣0⃣6⃣.— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) February 6, 2019
Welcome home, Austin McNamara!
#WreckEm | #19Guns⚫ pic.twitter.com/Tsu9FbofvH
One of the top punters in the country has officially signed with Texas Tech. Austin McNamara is a big addition to the special teams unit.
RB Dadrion Taylor: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
From the 4⃣0⃣5⃣ to the 8⃣0⃣6⃣.— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) February 6, 2019
Welcome home, Dadrion Taylor!
#WreckEm | #19Guns⚫ pic.twitter.com/UQhiT3cguF
Three-star running back Dadrion Taylor might have been the most underrated player in this Tech recruiting class. The Oklahoma native has now officially signed on as the fourth scholarship running back on the roster.
K Jonathan Garibay: Riverside, CA
Bringing some Cali swag to the 8⃣0⃣6⃣.— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) February 6, 2019
He can kick it, too
Welcome home, Jonathan Garibay!
#WreckEm | #19Guns⚫ pic.twitter.com/6EbPn8C0kg
Kicker Jonathan Garibay has now committed to the #19Guns squad. He’ll compete with Trey Wolff to start as the placekicker.
Three-star athlete Velton Gardner has decommitted from Texas Tech and will instead be signing with Kansas today. This has been expected by many of us as Gardner never really saw eye to eye with the new coaching staff.
. @_V1oading going to @KU_Football #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/VDeDggmQHK— Skyline Football (@SKYLINEfb) February 6, 2019
OT Cole Thomas: Seattle, Washington
Committed— Cole Thomas (@_colethomas) February 6, 2019
Proverbs 16:9 #GunsUp⚫ #ForRLT pic.twitter.com/7EUt3wJIgk
Head coach Matt Wells was able to convince Seattle tackle Cole Thomas to follow him to Texas Tech. Thomas looked to initially be headed to Utah State on scholarship, but has decided to take a preferred walk-on position with the Red Raider instead.
ATH Alante Brown: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago ✈ Lubbock Tx ✅ pic.twitter.com/S47Xbo7CXU— Alante Brown ⚡ (@alantebrown3) February 7, 2019
Brown is arguably the big commitment surprise of the day. The three-star wide receiver was highly sought after by Florida State, however Tech OC David Yost was able to reel him in.
Watch out for more in depth coverage of these new additions.


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I've always loved food, don't get me wrong. And I have already learned my lesson about the perils of buying lunch at work. But ever since I started dating Boyfriend I have become alarmingly domesticated. I've been cooking! And not just pasta or scrambled eggs but actual meals. Truth be told before he came around for dinner I mostly ate:
- Canned soup
- Ramen noodles
- Frozen dinners
- Frozen ravioli
- Chef Boyardee ravioli
- Pasta, lots and lots of pasta
- Mac and cheese out of a box
- Hot dogs
- PB & J
After college I lived at home and ate Mom's cooking again before finally heading back to law school where I lived in a dorm that had a kitchen but I didn't have time to cook so I survived on tomato soup and hot dogs. Seriously. That's all I ate for one year. But I aced Contracts!
My second year of law school I moved into my first apartment! Independence! A kitchen of my very own. A whole set of used cookware handed down to me with no instructions. I expanded my horizons to the occasional omlette but mostly I stuck to that list above. I've now lived in that apartment for four years and the most elaborate meal I've made there is chilli.
Then I met Boyfriend! We courted - during which time I discover his culinary habits are even worse than mine. Instead of making it a Mac n Cheese night he orders in. Every night! I reaped the benefits of this habit at first. Don't get me wrong. When you're first dating a great guy and he wants to order you a baked ziti dinner for delivery so you have time to, um, watch a movie, you go for it.
Then things really got hot....in the kitchen. It started with football season of course. I made for my new Boyfriend the only thing I'd ever really learned how to make: chilli. It took me all day in the Crock Pot but we loved it. A tradition was formed. We started going to the grocery store together and planning meals. We were a couple who cooked for each other. Life was good.
I started taking pictures of the meals I made to email to my Mom to prove that yes I do know how to make pork chops.
Yum, I made this shrimp stir fry a couple of weeks ago. And while yes it's cheaper than going to a restaurant the items you see above were really damned expensive. The shrimp was reasonably priced but when you add in the baby corn plus the scallions plus the snow peas et. al it was probably about a $30 meal. Obviously we can't afford to eat something like that every night.
Boyfriend and I shop for food for his condo together and I want to start chipping in more as I've been kind of lax with my grocery money contributions the past couple of trips. I've been reading a lot about stockpiling staples when they are on sale and I think it's a great idea. However on my limited budget I can't exactly buy much of anything in bulk. Browsing the weekly grocery store flyer I noticed that bread crumbs are 10 for $10. I think that sounds like a fabulous deal. I ain't so sure where we have the room for 10 boxes of bread crumbs though. Oh wait, how about my Really Expensive Storage Facility around the corner?
I think we need to do a little more meal planning so that we can effectively set our grocery budget. We always buy things on sale except for lunch meat and beer but we need to stock up on more of the basics....especially because, guess what, it's snowing in October!! So stay tuned for more on my culinary adventures.

domain: food


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So we're ABOUT halfway through this deployment YAY!! I say ABOUT b/c you just never know with the army but if it's 15 months from the day Trav left we're about halfway through. I figured I would re-post my goals and keep myself accountable! I think I've been doing pretty well (alhtough not perfect!!) I copied them from my post back in April.
- Read my scriptures every night
Okay I'm really slacking here. I'll remember for a week and then I'll forget for a few days... I'm really not doing terrible I'm ALMOST done with Second Nephi BUT my real goal is to read the whole Book of Mormon before Trav gets home... I know this is terrible but I have NEVER read the entire book so I hope to be able to say that I did...
- Start "school" with Alexis. I found this great website to help me and I'm super excited! I think we will both benefit from it. If you're interested the website is http://www.letteroftheweek.com/ check it out!
We're up to the letter Nn and it's REALLY working! She is learning her letters and is even starting to write them including her name! She LOVES school with mommy and now that she's in preschool too she's really picking stuff up FAST!
- Scrapbook, scrapbook, scrapbook! I'm only about 6 months behind with Alexis but now with 2 kids I really have to try to stay caught up! I love doing it but sometimes I get distracted with other things.
Thanks to having so many wonderful friends to scrapbook with I have really caught up! I am completely caught up with the girls till last month and have actually gotten more going on our travel album. My friend, Ester and I have monthly "scrapbooking weekends" where we just scrapbook for 2 days straight and I just stay the night over there. We have so much fun! Plus lately, Erica, Cristine, Britteny, and I have started having days, here and there, where we will keep everything out on my table and do it all day. I LOVE these times and seriously think I should scrapbook scrapbooking days so I don't ever forget how fun they are!! I know I sound cheesy but with Trav gone and all my family in the states these girls ARE my family and they are FABULOUS!! So I guess this is also a huge shoutout to my girls Britteny, Erica, Cristine, and Ester! Love you guy!
- Organize a few things in my house that have been driving me crazy. You know when you move and you put things away and then as you're living there you realize it's just not a good place for that stuff? Maybe not but I'm realizing I want to change some things around.
I got this done fairly quickly after Travis left and last month I did a "fall cleaning." I just love being cleaned and organized! I know what you're thinking DORK and yes, yes I am!
-Lose this baby weight! I want to lose about 40 pounds! I've started getting up about 6 to get my work out in before the girls get up and that seems to be working out well!!!There's more but those are my big ones.
Okay I'm not sure if I was trying to not sound like I had as much to lose or what but I actually am aiming for 50 pounds lost. I've gotten a great start I think... So far I've lost 26 pounds which means I'm over halfway to my goal. Working out is such an important thing for me but ESPECIALLY when Trav is gone it's the perfect way to have ME time AND do something good for myself!
So I guess that is my update... I am hoping to be posting about WO very soon since the board was Monday we should know something soon!!! Lexie has been sick the last few days but is finally feeling better so we are looking forward to actually LEAVING the house tomorrow. Ryan is really moving around. I now have to keep things REALLY picked up and I swear I sweep 3-4 times a DAY!! I will get some pictures up soon too!!

domain: hobby


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Trojans clinch No. 3 seed in Sun Belt Baseball Tournament
Published 10:09 am Monday, May 22, 2023
The Troy Trojans (38-18, 18-12) closed out the 2023 regular season with a 12-8 loss to the Appalachian State Mountaineers (27-23, 16-13) on May 20 but the Trojans still manage to finish with the No. 3 seed in this week’s Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament.
In the final game of the series with Appalachian State, the Mountaineers managed to avoid the sweep as both teams hit three home runs apiece in the contest. Donovan Whibbs led Troy at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and a run. Kole Myers, Caleb Bartolero and Ozark native Bryan Brooks each hit homers for Troy. Luke Drumheller, Golston Gillespie and Braxton Church belted dingers for the Mountaineers.
A total of six Trojans toed the rubber in the regular season finale with Brandon Schrepf taking the loss as he gave up one hit and two earned runs in one inning pitched. Ben Thompson struck out seven batters and gave up three hits and one earned run in three innings on the mound.
Troy and Appalachian State will meet yet again this Wednesday as the Sun Belt Tournament gets underway from Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium at 9 a.m. The winning team advances to the second round of the tournament on Thursday, May 25, at 4 p.m. The losing team plays again at 9 a.m. on May 25 in an elimination game. All tournament games will air on ESPN+.


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The Hyacinth Macaw is the third pin in my new 12 Endangered Species series.
This collectible hard enamel pin badge with silver nickel outline, comes attached to a specially designed backing board. Pins measure approximately 30x30mm depending on the design.
10% of all profits from the Endangered Species series pins will be donated to a conservation charity working to save the featured creature.
NOTE: These pins are currently in production and available for pre-order - they will be shipping mid March.

domain: design


The Atomic Armoury G17 style Gas-Blow Back pistol! This AA Green Gas Pistol comes with a polymer frame and full metal slide ,driven by a gas magazine and capable of semi-auto fire! Packed in a small gun case for easy transportation!
Green Gas Powered.
Gas pistols require a higher level of maintenance you can purchase gun lube in store,
Staff will show you how to maintain them well.
7-8 mm gels.
Comes in a plastic case.
These shoot around 270 and 280 fps.
Sorry We can only Ship Gel Blasters to Qld & WA.


Trees in urban and semi-rural landscapes provide many benefits that include:
- improving air quality
- reducing storm water runoff
- harbouring wildlife
- reducing stress levels.
- combating climate change by reducing heat island effects.
Recognising the importance of trees, the Victorian Government has planning controls to preserve trees and vegetation on private and public land.
If there’s an overlay protection, it’s an offence to remove a tree without a permit or development consent.
What you should do before applying for a permit
The best way to find out is:
Overlays that affect tree removal
Below is an overview of each overlay and what we look for when assessing an application. You’ll also find information on what you should do before applying for a permit.
The Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO)
What is an Environmental Significance Overlay?
Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) is a planning control and covers most of the eastern half of Manningham.
ESO areas are important and any development of land must be compatible with identified environmental values of the particular area.
Vegetation may be a significant part of the environment in some areas as a habitat or link for native fauna. It can also contribute to soil stability and water quality as well.
What we look for when assessing a permit
An ESO has many challenges and we look for a number things when assessing a permit that includes:
- The impact of any proposed buildings, works and any associated vegetation loss on the natural environment.
- Significance of the flora, fauna and the landscape values of the area.
- The possible impact of vegetation loss on landscape values.
- Fire management requirements.
- The impact on animal movement and survival.
Where a development or vegetation removal doesn’t meet the objectives of the ESO, modifications to preserve existing vegetation is generally required.
The Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) and Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO)
What is the SLO and VPO?
The Manningham planning scheme has 7 schedules to the SLO and 3 schedules to the VPO. This could mean that the planning controls for a property covered by the SLO or VPO differs from another property affected by the SLO or VPO.
It’s a good idea to talk to us before commencing any construction works or vegetation removal due to the complexity of these planning controls. You should confirm the permit requirements with us.
What we look for when assessing a permit application in an SLO and VPO area
When assessing a permit application, we look for some of the following:
- The impact of the proposed buildings, works and any associated vegetation loss on the natural environment.
- The built form and the existing preferred neighbourhood character of the area.
- The possible impact of building height, location, bulk and general appearance on the character of the area.
- The impact of vegetation loss on the landscape character or significance of the area.
Where a development or vegetation removal doesn’t meet the objectives of the SLO or VPO, modifications to preserve existing vegetation is generally required.
The General Residential Zones (GRZ)
In most GRZ where land is less than 4000m2, you will not need a permit to remove a tree within the property.
Clause 54 or 55 of the Manningham planning scheme applies to any proposed development within a GRZ area. The landscape objectives of both clauses is retaining significant canopy trees as part of any site development.
If you have removed a significant canopy tree 12 months before making an application, we will generally require you to replace the tree. Also there will be minimum tree planting requirements of the schedules to the zone.
It’s a good idea to get advice from a qualified arborist before removing a tree before any future development of the site.
The Heritage Overlay
A heritage overlay protects and enhances places of natural or cultural significance, including historical gardens or trees. You will generally need a permit to remove vegetation under this overlay.
It’s a good idea to talk to us to about the permit requirements and this planning control.
A Section 173 Agreement
Section 173 agreements are from the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and covers some local properties protecting trees from removal.
This planning control is complex and you should talk to us about the permit requirements before removing any trees.
Are there any exemptions from the tree removal requirements?
If a tree is dangerous and poses an immediate risk of personal injury or to property, an exemption applies. The exemption only applies to the part of the vegetation posing an immediate risk
You should get an arborist to inspect the tree for their advice on its condition. Advice relating to future management should be in writing. You can forward this info to us for confirmation.
Tree removal and bushfires
Areas where there’s a significant risk of bushfire that’s likely to pose a threat to life and to property, such as an area affected by bushfire management overlay (BMO), you can under some circumstances remove vegetation.
How to apply
Removal, destruction or lopping of one tree.
Removal, destruction or lopping of one Victorian native tree on a property greater than 4000m2.
Removal, destruction or lopping of two or more trees.
What you should do before removing a tree
Talk to a qualified arborist (minimum Australian qualification framework level 5) before removing trees. They’ll be able to provide advice and an aboricultural report.
Along with an arboricultural report, we may also require the following info with your application:
- a site plan
- an explanation of the steps you’ve taken to avoid or minimise the removal of native vegetation
- a landscape plan including any proposed replanting.
You can help by planting a tree
Contribute to the improvement of our urban forest and ecological values of the area by planting a tree on your property. native trees are best suited to the local environment.
Most permits will include a condition to replant an appropriate number of replacement trees if there’s been an approval to remove protected trees. We base our calculations of replacement trees on the replacement planting table from the Port Phillip and Westernport native vegetation plan.
- Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box)
- Eucalyptus goniocalyx (Long Leaved Box)
- Eucalyptus polyanthemos (Red Box)
- Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark
- Eucalyptus ovata (Swamp Gum)
- Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate Stringybark)
- Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum)
- Eucalyptus rubida (Candlebark)
- Eucalyptus radiata Narrow-leaf Peppermint)
- Eucalyptus dives (Broad-leaf Peppermint)
- Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum)


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I have many different types of fruit trees in my yard. Yellow Delicious, Gala, Jonathan, Macantosh, Elberta Peaches, Stanley Plums, Danjo Pears, Barlet Pears, Apricots, Bing Cherries, and Elderberries. When is the best time to harvest each of these?
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Apples - seeds are brown inside, apples start to drop, some people like to wait closer to frost
peaches - color and they start to soften fall from tree
pears - seeds are brown inside (D'anjo after frost, Bartlett when they turn lighter green)
apricots - color and soften
Cherries dark color
Elderberries - blue and powdery
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- My wife and I just planted an Autumn Blaze Maple at our home in Syracuse. Do you have any advice for caring for this particular tree? Both in the long term and short term?
- We bought an apple tree to plant on arbor day,but still haven't got to planting it. I've tried to keep it watered and in the sun, but the poor thing is struggling. The leaves appear to be dying on the ends. Will it still survive if we get it in the ground? Also can it be planted in an area that gets a lot of water? It is a Braeburn tree.
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domain: agronomy


text:
Punjab River Waters and The SYL Canal
[Submission made by Sikh Core Group to Punjab Government in 2002 on the question of SYL Canal and Supreme Court of India’s directions to Punjab government.]
The Legal Angle
1. Haryana is not entitled to any additional waters from Punjab Rivers : At the time of Reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, the then extant canal irrigation system covered some areas which now form a part of Haryana. Haryana is no more riparian to the Punjab rivers (Satluj, Beas and Ravi). So even under a most liberal view, its claim, if at all, has to be restricted to the quantum of water received by those areas only.
This view is endorsed by no less an authority than Dr Kanwar Sain, Chairman, Central Water and Power Commission (1953-1958), who was also Chairman, Haryana Review Board (1969-72). He says :
After the 1955 Agreement, two important events occurred. PEPSU was merged with Punjab. The share allotted to PEPSU in 1955 Agreement was merged with the Punjab share; thus raising the Punjab share to 7.20MAF. In 1966, the State of Punjab was reorganized. Details are given in the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. Para 48, Clause 2 of this Act provides, As the water allotted to Punjab in 1955 Agreement was for
specific areas, now geographically located in Punjab, this water shall pass on to the successor State in whose territory such areas are located. Specific areas included by the Punjab in 1955 were as below :
i. Upper Bari Doab canal. All areas with water table below 10 foot were provided perennial irrigation
ii. Shahnehar canal
iii. Beat areas of Ravi and Beas
iv. Sirhind feeder
v. Eastern Canal
It will thus be seen that no area from Districts which formed Haryana was taken for claiming supply from Ravi and Beas rivers because all areas in Haryana can be irrigated only by lift and the 1955 Agreement excluded lift areas. Thus, according to 1955 Agreement no area in Haryana was entitled to any supply from Ravi and Beas rivers.[Kanwar Sain (Chairman, CentralWater and Power Commission, 1953-1958; also Chairman, Haryana Review Board, 1969-1972) : Sharing Ravi Beas Waters, JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES SOCIETY, VolV, October 1985, p. 38]
2. Notification 1976 : The relevant portions of the notification of 1976 are mentioned below :
As the successor States failed to reach an Agreement with regard to their rights and liabilities in relation to the Beas Project within the period specified in the Punjab ReorganizationAct, 1966, the State of Haryana made an application to the Central Government for making the determination. The Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by the Punjab Reorganization Act of 1966, made the following Notification on 24th March, 1976 :
Taking note of the facts that Haryana has a large arid tract and several drought prone areas and the present development of irrigation in the State of Haryana is substantially less as compared to that in the State of Punjab, and further taking into consideration that comparatively large quantities of water is needed
for irrigation in the State of Haryana and there is limited availability of water from other sources in that State, the Central Government hereby direct that out of the water which would have become available to the erstwhile State of Punjab on completion of the Beas Project, 0.12MAF whereof is earmarked for Delhi Water Supply, the State of Haryana will get 3.5MAF and the State of Punjab will get the remaining quantity not exceeding 3.5MAF. When further conservation works on the Ravi are completed, Punjab will get 3.5
MAF out of 7.2 MAF which is the share of the erstwhile State of Punjab. The remaining 0.08 MAF out of 7.2 MAF, is recommended as additional quantum of water for Delhi Water Supply for acceptance by both the
Governments of Punjab and Haryana. [Kanwar Sain (Chairman, CentralWater and Power Commission, 1953-1958; also Chairman, Haryana Review Board, 1969-1972) : Sharing Ravi Beas Waters, JOURNAL OF WATER RESOURCES SOCIETY, VolV, October 1985, p. 39.]
This notification suffered from two fundamental infirmities :
i) Sections 78-80 of Punjab Reorganisation Act which were taken as the basis for this notification, were ultra vires as has been explained in the Appendix A.
ii) The Beas Project plan had been finalised before 1966. It envisaged the utilization of waters as follows :
I. Beas project canal from Harike did not include any supply of water to Haryana. Entire 3.2MAFsupply there was projected for Punjab areas.
II. Out of the 2.2 MAF to be supplied at Ropar only 0.9 MAF were to go to Haryana areas.
3. Reallocation 1981 Agreement is not acceptable : The details of the Agreement are quoted below :
(i) According to the flow series 1921-60, the total mean supply of Ravi and Beas Waters is 20.56MAF. Deducting the pre-partition uses of 3.13MAF and transit losses in the Madhopur Beas Link of 0.26MAF, the net surplus Ravi and Beas waters according to the flow series 1921-60 is 17.17 MAF as against the corresponding figure of 15.85 MAF for the flow series 1921-45, which forms the basis of water allocation under the 1955 Agreement. It is now hereby agreed that the mean supply of 17.17MAF (Flow and Storage) may be reallocated as under :
Share of Punjab 4.22 MAF
Share of Haryana 3.50 MAF
Share of Rajasthan 8.60 MAF
Quantity earmarked for Delhi Water Supply 0.20 MAF
Share of Jammu & Kashmir 0.65 MAF
Total 17.17 MAF
(ii) Until such times as Rajasthan is in a position to utilise its full share, Punjab shall be free to utilise the water surplus to Rajasthan’s requirement. As Rajasthan will soon be able to utilise it share, Punjab shall make adequate alternative arrangements expeditiously for irrigation of its own lands by the time Rajasthan
is in a position to utilise its full share. (As on date Rajasthan is already drawing its full share). It would be evident from the figures mentioned therein that the quantum of water available has been cleverly manipulated with mala fide intentions to show an increase from 15.85 MAF to 17.17 MAF by taking figures only upto 1960 and not upto 1980. For these reasons amongst others Kanwar Sain rejected this agreement. He says : It is, therefore, a sound decision that the 1981 Agreement should not remain on the Statute.
4. All Central awards/forced agreements are arbitrary : a) Under Section 78 (1) read with Section 2(i), the rights and benefits of the Beas project could be allocated between the successor States of Haryana, Punjab
and Chandigarh in the ratio of 37.38 to 54.84 to 7.78%. These figures of sharing may be conveniently rounded as 37%, 55% and 8%, respectively, for depiction of respective share of the successor States. Obviously, there is no justifiable basis for this ratio. But surprisingly, even this arbitrarily assumed ratio was never adhered to by the Central Government, and State of Haryana was treated on equal footing with Punjab in utter disregard of the aforesaid statutory provisions of Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 not withstanding the fact that the Act itself was ultra vires.
b) Ravi waters and allied works like Thein Dam, constructed subsequently for storing waters of the Ravi, stand excluded from the scope of the aforesaid Section 78, because there is no mention of Ravi waters or any project relating to Ravi in the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Obviously, the Award of 1976 and subsequent modified agreement of December 1981 providing for distribution of waters of the Ravi and assumed to be made under Section 78 of the Act (ibid) were ultra vires, because there was no such provision relating to Ravi waters in the Act of 1966.
c) The participation of Rajasthan in the Agreement of December 1981 is beyond the provisions of Section 78(i) under which only the successor States as defined in Section 2(M) of the Act, 1966 could participate in the agreement. Consequently, the participation of Rajasthan in December 1981Agreement is illegal, and vitiates the entire agreement.
5. Yamuna Waters : The Yamuna River Agreement was signed for a period of 30 years on May 12, 1994 among the Riparian States of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan for allocation of their respective shares in the Yamuna waters. It is pertinent to point out that although Punjab was one of the successor States of erstwhile Yamuna River, it was neither called to participate in the Chief Ministers Meeting of respective States, nor was it allocated any share in Yamuna waters. The point to highlight is that the Riparian Principle has been followed in case of the Yamuna River, and its waters denied to Punjab as a non-riparian state. In case of Satluj, Beas and Ravi, however, the Riparian Principle has been thrown to the winds and non-riparian Haryana allotted large chunks of their waters. This blatant discrimination is difficult to swallow.
The following table shows the gross injustice done to Punjab in distribution of River Waters :
Distribution of River Waters
State Satluj Basis Yamuna Basis Actual
+Ravi by Centre
Punjab 30.0 Riparian 13.22
Haryana 0.9 (usage) 5.5 Riparian 14.33
Rajasthan 1.0 (For Gang Canal) (usage) 9.60
J&K 0.6 Riparian 0.65
Total 32.50 5.5 38.00
Punjab River Waters and the SYL Canal — The Economic Aspect
1. Irrigation Water and its Impact on Punjab Economy: During 50’s and 60’s, Punjab’s cropping intensity was about 125%, i.e., crops were raised over about 5 million hectares against the net cultivable area of 4 million hectares. With expansion of irrigation from both ground water (tubewells) and surface water (river water) the cropping intensity increased to about 187%, i.e., crops are now raised over an area of about 7.6 million hectares against the net cultivable area of about 4 million hectares.
Irrigation also enabled farmers to adopt high yielding varieties of crops which needed assured water supply especially during initial growth-period of the crops. The result is evident. The cropped area almost doubled, and yield increased by at least 4-5 times, in case of food crops which constitute about 75% of the total cropped area. Last year (2001-02) market arrivals of wheat and paddy alone resulted in a cash inflow of about Rs 12000 crores. Its impact not only on the rural economy but also urban economy can be very well imagined. But for the injection of such large amounts of money in the States economy the urban areas also would have remained undeveloped. In fact, today the rural economy determines the urban economy to a very large extent. The capital generated from the farm sector promotes market economy in urban centres, e.g., trade in consumer goods and capital equipment, besides directly affecting the agriculture related economic activity. Thousands of mechanics handling repair of electric motors and diesel engines running tubewells, labourers handling produce at the markets, and transporters carrying food-grains from the market to the godowns and distribution centres, besides thousands employed in the rice shelling industry, depend on rural economy for their economic survival.
2. Impact of the River Water Award: 3.5 MAF water from Ravi and Beas waters is awarded to Haryana. When Beas waters were diverted to Satluj, about 1.7 MAFof water was given to Haryana via Narwana branch. The remaining 1.8 MAFof water will have to be diverted from Nangal/Ropar headworks (this water cannot be given from Harike). This, if implemented, will mean reducing water supplies from Sirhind and/or releases made into Satluj for Harike reservoir. It will result in reduction of irrigation on about 1.0 million acres in the districts of Ropar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Moga, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Bathinda. The reduction in releases of water in Satluj will result in reduced recharge of ground water to the extent of 80%, which will ultimately affect water supplies to all tubewells (thousands) alongside its course, on both sides from Ropar to Harike (about 90 miles). The supply of water in Bist Doab too will have to be stopped. Whereas the government is keen to improve the economic well-being of the people, this action of withdrawal of water from a large number of farmers, will result in their economic ruination. Not only that, it will result in lowering the cropping intensity as well as productivity in the affected areas leaving practically no marketable surpluses. Evidently this will affect theeconomyof allwhoare involved in this chain of production to marketing. Already farmers are suffering as their family income has dwindled because of subdivision of land-holdings and higher cost of production. Implementation of the award is bound to cause frustration and a feeling of unrest among the farmers, which may lead to a widespread avoidable agitation.
Punjab River Waters and the SYL Canal — Constitutional Aspects
The Punjab impasse has been kept pulsating through mal-governance and evil designs. A small stroke of administrative, legislative, judicial or political whiff sets in seismic throbbings in the simmering cauldron of Punjab’s unresolved economic, political and social problems. In the skein of complicated Punjab tangle, river-waters dispute is a glaring strain. The recent Supreme Court order of January 15, 2002 regarding the digging of Satluj Yamuna Link canal has stirred up emotions in Punjab and Haryana which are bound to develop into a tinderbox entailing immense damage to the precarious peace and tranquillity of the region.
Explicit provisions of the Constitution of India regarding river waters and river valleys have been subtly made murkier and confusing to the unwary reader while drafting the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 by skilfully interweaving texts and sub-texts, theoretical reasoning and contestable facts. With a view to dispelling misinformation, confusion and ignorance pertaining to the Punjab river waters dispute, I have in this article discussed only the Constitutional and legal aspects of the problem.
Article 262. (1) Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
2. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1). The Parliament is competent to make laws for the adjudication of disputes relating
to water of inter-State rivers or river valleys. In explaining the need for an extra-judicial machinery to settle inter-State disputes relating to water supplies, the joint Parliamentary Committee Report observed :
The effect of this is to give each Province complete powers over water supplies within the Province without any regard whatever to the interests of neighbouring Provinces.
Under Article 246 of the Constitution, the Legislature of any State has exclusive power to make laws with respect to the matters enumerated in List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Entry number 17 of the State List reads as under :
17. Water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power subject to the provisions of Entry 56 of list I . (Union List)
Entry 56 of the Union List is set out below :
56. Regulation and development of inter-State rivers and river valleys to the extent to which such regulation and development under the control of the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest.
The rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj being intra-State rivers belong to Punjab and the Parliament cannot deprive people of Punjab of their rights to exclusive use of these waters. While enacting the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the Government of India unconstitutionally engrafted Sections 78, 79 and 80 impinging upon the exclusive rights of Punjab. The relevant provisions of Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 are as follows :
Rights and liabilities in regard to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects :-
1. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act but subject to the provisions of Section 79 and 80, all rights and liabilities of the existing State of Punjab in relation to Bhakra-Nangal Project and Beas Project shall, on the appointed day, be the rights and liabilities of the successor States in such proportion as may be fixed, and subject to such adjustment as may be made by agreement entered into by the said States after consultation with the Central Government or if no such agreement is entered into within two years of the appointed day, as the Central Government may be order determine having regard to the purpose of the Projects :
Provided that the order so made by the Central Government may be varied by the subsequent agreement entered into by the successor States after consultation with the Central Government.
2. An agreement or order referred to in sub-section (1) shall if there has been or extension or further development of either of the projects referred to in that sub-section after the appointed day provide also for the rights and liabilities of the successor States in relation to such extension or further development.
3. The rights and liabilities referred to in sub-section (1) and (2) shall include : a) the rights to receive and to utilise the water available for distribution as a result of the projects and b) the rights to receive and to utilise the power generated as a result of the projects, but shall not include the rights and liabilities under any contract entered into before the appointed day by the Government of the existing State of Punjab with any person or authority other than Government. On March 24, 1976 Government of India issued a notification distributing Punjab river waters. (Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Congress Government in Punjab) The Akali Government of Punjab in suit No. 2 of 1979 challenged this distribution as also the
vires of the Sections 78 to 80 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 before the Supreme Court. The Akali Government in Punjab was succeeded by Congress Government and the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had an agreement hammered out on 31-12-1981 among the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana (all of them of her party) and had the 1979 Punjab suit withdrawn on 12-2-82. The Prime Minister inaugurated the digging of SYL canal at Kapuri (Distt. Patiala). The Shiromani Akali Dal and Communist Party (Marxist) launched agitation against the 31-12-81 agreement and consequential start of the canal digging (CPM withdrew from this agitation when it was turned into Dharam Yudh by the Akalis who carried on this agitation for a long time). This agitation ended with the signing of an accord between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President, SAD Sant Harchand Singh Longowal on July 24, 1985. (Punjab Settlement). As per this settlement, dispute was referred to aTribunal and thisTribunal was recognised by adding Section 14
in the Inter-StateWater Disputes Act, 1956 which reads as under :
Section 14 : Constitution of Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal :-
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by notification in the official gazette, constitute a tribunal under this Act, to be known as the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal for the verification and adjudication of the matters referred to in paragraphs 9.1 and 9.2 respectively of the Punjab Settlement.
The Punjab Assembly through a resolution on 5-11-85 repudiated the agreement of 31-12-81.
The Inter-StateWater DisputesTribunal (Eradi Tribunal) gave interim award on January 30, 1987 with respect to the distribution of Punjab river waters. The Punjab Government filed objections before thisTribunal which are still awaiting decision. No award has been notified by the Government of India and consequently there is no award to be enforced. The Haryana Government filed suit under Article 131 of the Constitution which was decided by the Division Bench comprising of Justice G.BPattanaik and Justice Ruma Pal on January 15, 2002. In their order, the learned Division Bench held that the construction of the SYL canal has absolutely no connection with the sharing of water between the states and as such is not a water dispute and that the State Governments having entered into agreementsamongthemselves on the intervention of the Prime Minister of the country, resulting in withdrawal of the pending suits in the court, cannot be permitted
to take a stand contrary to the agreements arrived at between themselves. The Supreme Court further held that theSYLcanal should be completed and made functional within one year from its order of January 15, 2002.
The Supreme Court assumed to itself authority which is not vested in it by the Constitution of India and erred in arriving at its conclusions. The whole case before the Supreme Court was with respect to the completion of SYL canal for the carriage of Punjab river waters to Haryana pursuant to the notification 24-3-76, agreement of 31-12-81 and settlement of July 24, 1985. Case of none of the parties before the Supreme Court was with respect to any matter other than the use, distribution and carriage of Punjab river
waters through a canal termed as SYL canal. The SYL canal, as per contention of the parties is meant only for use as irrigation canal. It is crystal clear that theSYLcanal is to be used for the carriage and distribution of river waters and is not intended for any other use, say, engineering museum, tourist park or a defence embankment. So far there is no enforceable award for the distribution of Punjab river waters and theSYLcanal, if dug up, cannot be used as a canal for carriage of any waters.
The March24, 1976 notification (Government fiat)wassuperseded by the agreement of 31-12-81 and the latter was superseded by the Punjab Settlement of 24-7-1985. It was not an agreement between competent parties and even this settlement was rejected by the PunjabAssembly on 5-11-85. Thus there had been no binding agreement between the parties and Punjab has been persistently and assiduously pleading against the unjust and unconstitutional awards and agreements all this time. The conduct of Punjab has
through out been consistent in its opposition to the awards and agreements. Furthermore, the 24-7-1985 Settlement (Punjab Settlement) was recognised as part of the Inter-State Water DisputesAct, 1956. It clearly established that the matter was treated as inter-State waters dispute by the Government of India.
Contentions of the parties, phraseology of the agreements and the provisions of relevant enactments leave nothing in doubt that the matter of dispute concerns the construction of a canal for use, distribution and carriage of water of Punjab rivers to Haryana. The rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj being intra-State rivers of Punjab, these belong to Punjab and as per entry 17 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the State of Punjab is entitled to their ownership and control. In case these rivers
are reckoned as inter-State, disputes in respect thereof are to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Clause (2) of Article 262 of the Constitution. In either case, Supreme Court jurisdiction is barred with respect to adjudication of this dispute concerning rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj (exclusively of Punjab).
Sometime back Punjab farmers filed a writ petition before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh whichwasadmittedbythe then Chief Justice S. S. Sandhawalia. Justice Sandhawalia was transferred to Patna and the case was transferred by the Supreme Court to its own file. That case is still pending. As per the Constitution of India and the relevant law, Punjab has complete powers over waters of its rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj and it cannot be deprived of its right to enjoy its natural, constitutional and legal endowments. Of the three dispensations of 24-3-76, 31-12-81 and 24-7-85, only the 31-12-81 transaction was termed as agreement.
Even that was ab initio void and subsequently superseded by the 24-7-85 settlement and was outrightly rejected by the PunjabAssembly on 5-11-85. It is apparent that there was/is no volitional agreement which may be binding on Punjab. Right since the enactment of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, resulting in the creation of Haryana, Punjab has been agitating / protesting against the unconstitutional provisions of Sections 78, 79 and 80 ibid and unremittingly asserting that Haryana had no claim on Punjab river waters. Thus Punjab has by its consistent conduct demonstrated non-acceptance of any obligation of any sort for supply of its river waters to Haryana.
Various factors, like the quantum of water in Punjab rivers, methods of determination of their flow, drainage gradient. Punjab’s needs, technical, financial, economic and historical appraisals, contractual obligation, moral values, cost-benefit effectiveness of irrigation/hydel power capacity, determination of projects durations etc. etc. can be relevant only after a decision is made regarding the use of Punjab river waters by another State either through constitutional-judicial verdict bindingonthe parties or through volitional agreement between Punjab and seekers of its river waters.
Experience of most countries has shown that rights and interests with respect to river waters are best settled through mutual goodwill and cool headed negotiations. The courts have to function within certain judicial parameters which would not sometime help arrive at decisions satisfying the disputants. Neither will terminological twists, phraseological jugglery, legal shibboleths, political chicanery, vacuous verbosity replete with moral bankruptcy lead to amicable solutions in the matter of water disputes concerning rivers
and valleys. Geographical geometry, geological contours, historical veracity established through millennia of natural processes cannot be altered to suit the whims of political operators with puny visions.

domain: politics