Ken-Betwa Link Project

Key Highlights:

• The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is a major water-resources development project for the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• It is the first priority project under the National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers to enter the implementation stage.
• The project involves transferring water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin via the Daudhan Dam and a 216.465 km-long Ken-Betwa Link Canal.
• The total cost of the project is ₹44,605 crore, with a scheduled completion target of 2030.
• It aims to provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares, drinking water to 62 lakh people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
• The project has received all statutory clearances, including Environmental Clearance (2017), Wildlife Clearance (2016), Ministry of Tribal Affairs Clearance (2017), and Forest Clearance (2023).

Detailed Insights:

• The KBLP addresses historical water scarcity, inadequate irrigation, and declining groundwater in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
• Key components include the 96.7 m high Daudhan Dam on the Ken River, the Ken-Betwa Link Canal, Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.
• The project is designed as a comprehensive water-security and regional-development initiative, not solely an irrigation project.
• It will boost agricultural productivity, support crop diversification, and strengthen rural livelihoods by providing reliable irrigation water.
• While not eliminating drought, KBLP will substantially improve water security and drought resilience in beneficiary areas.
• Land acquisition and rehabilitation are conducted under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act, 2013), with a consent-based approach.
• The Government of Madhya Pradesh announced a Special Package in 2023, offering compensation of ₹12.50 lakh per hectare or the Act rate, whichever is higher.
• Compensation for houses, trees, and other assets is also provided, with options for new house plots or lump-sum payments for affected families.
• Rights of Scheduled Tribes and other forest-dependent communities are protected under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, with Gram Sabha consent obtained for forest clearance.
• Environmental impacts, particularly concerning Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), are mitigated through compensatory afforestation, an Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP), and the Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC).
• The project is generating employment opportunities during construction and is expected to foster long-term socio-economic prosperity in the region.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): A river interlinking project to transfer water from the Ken to the Betwa River, primarily for the Bundelkhand region.
• National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers: A long-term plan by the Indian government to connect rivers across the country to address water scarcity and floods.
• Bundelkhand Region: A drought-prone region in central India, spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, known for water scarcity.
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act, 2013): Indian law governing land acquisition, ensuring fair compensation and rehabilitation for affected persons.