Emotions are stirred up in Punjab and Haryana as the time limit of one year set by the Supreme Court to complete and commission the SYL canal expires on January 15. Though most emotions are politically stirred, the legal and constitutional aspects of the contentious issues involved can not be ignored. While Haryana is understandably pro-active, Punjab, too, is now ready with three sets of petitions, two civil suits and one curative, waiting final vetting by Mr F.S. Nariman next week. Why the delay in filing the petition(s)? The official explanation is "it is a tactical decision'! Fingers have also been pointed at the Congress Government for its belated decision to convene an all-party meeting on the issue. The moot question is not who all will attend or boycott it on January 8. The question is will participating political parties and their representatives ever rise above parochial politics and think of Punjab?It must be emphasised that both the Congress and the Akalis should be apportioned the blame for all controversies over the sharing of river waters and the construction of the 306-km SYL canal that has claimed human lives and Rs 850 crore of tax-payers' money.