India, Aug. 5 -- In an attempt to break the decades-long deadlock over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil will convene a meeting in the national capital on Tuesday with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. This will mark the fifth formal discussion between the two leaders, ahead of a key Supreme Court hearing on the issue scheduled for August 13.

The last meeting on July 9, also led by Patil, ended on a conciliatory note, with both states expressing willingness to work towards an amicable settlement. However, the core disagreement - Punjab's refusal to part with water - continues to stall progress.

The SYL Canal issue has been a major source of friction sin...