The Centre on Thursday filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking fresh directions on the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal in the wake of Punjab's unilateral decision to scrap its water sharing agreements with three neighbouring states.

On Monday, in a move that stunned the nation, Punjab annulled all its water sharing agreements with Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh by passing the Punjab Termination of Agreement Bill 2004 in the state assembly by a unanimous vote.

This followed the Supreme Court order asking Punjab to handover construction of SYL canal to the Union government.

The Centre's application in SC on Thursday said fresh directions are required as the Punjab government's decision to enact the controversial law had rendered the completion of the SYL canal, as directed by the Court on June 4, difficult.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, meanwhile, has stepped up efforts to thrash out an amicable solution to the vexed issue. He has held a series of meetings with the chief ministers of all four states.
 
The matter was also taken up for discussion at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.