Patiala, Feb. 7 -- A delegation of the Ravi Beas Water Tribunal, led by its chairman Justice Vineet Saran, was forced to abort its visit to Lohand Khad near Kiratpur Sahib in Rupnagar district on Friday after farmers staged a protest against the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal project and blocked the Chandigarh-Una highway.

The delegation, which was scheduled to inspect the halted construction of the SYL Canal following directions from the Supreme Court, could not reach the site due to the protest at Bunga Sahib. The farmers, led by the Kirti Kisan Union, staged a sit-in on the highway, leading to massive traffic disruption for several hours.

Confirming the development, Rupnagar deputy commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the tribunal mem...