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Ken-Betwa River Linking Project
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently laid the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project on December 25, 2024, coinciding with the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
More on News:
- A memorandum of agreement for implementing the project was signed on March 22, 2021, between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km tunnel.
Historical context:
- This project is the first under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking rivers, which was proposed in 1980.
- The KBLP is one of 16 projects in the Peninsular component, with additional links proposed for the Himalayan rivers.
About KBLP Project:
- The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project (KBLP) is a significant initiative aimed at transferring surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
- The project is estimated to cost Rs 44,605 crore and is expected to be completed in eight years.
- Project Phases:
- Phase I: Construction of the Daudhan Dam, Low and High-Level Tunnels, Link Canal, and powerhouses.
- Phase II: Involves the Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.
Features:
- Irrigation: The project aims to irrigate approximately 10.62 lakh hectares of land annually, benefiting both Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Water Supply: It will provide drinking water to around 62 lakh people.
- Hydropower: The project is expected to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
- Infrastructure: The main component is the Daudhan Dam, which will be 2,031 meters long and 77 meters high. The dam will submerge around 9,000 hectares of land, impacting 10 villages.
Significance:
- The project will benefit the water-scarce Bundelkhand region, which spans 13 districts across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Key districts benefiting include Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, Raisen (MP), and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur (UP).
- The project promises to improve water availability for agriculture, drinking, and industrial purposes, enhance groundwater stability, promote tourism, and create job opportunities.
Impacts:
- Forest and Wildlife Clearances: The project will require significant deforestation in the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve, with approximately 98 sq km of the park being submerged.
- The Daudhan Dam will be constructed within the core area of the park, which has raised concerns about its impact on the tiger population, especially after a successful tiger reintroduction program.
- Other wildlife concerns include potential harm to the Gharial population in the Ken Gharial Sanctuary and vulture nesting sites downstream.
- Displacement: About 5,228 families in Chhatarpur and 1,400 families in Panna will be displaced due to submergence and project-related acquisitions.
The displacement has led to protests over inadequate compensation and perceived low benefits, necessitating resettlement and rehabilitation efforts.
