Ken-Betwa rehab: MP govt vows inquiry into complaints, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Madhya Pradesh government has announced an inquiry into complaints regarding the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured the Assembly that any complaints would be investigated and resolved within a month.
• Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar alleged widespread irregularities in compensation, rehabilitation surveys, and Gram Sabha proceedings.
• The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first inter-basin river-linking project, has an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore.
• The project aims to transfer water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh.

Detailed Insights:

• The project is designed to provide irrigation to over 1.06 million hectares of agricultural land and supply drinking water to approximately 6.2 million people in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
• It also includes the generation of 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
• The project involves the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a link canal.
• Thousands of families, primarily indigenous Gond and Kol tribes, in Panna and Chhatarpur districts are facing displacement due to the project.
• Complaints from affected villagers include omissions from rehabilitation lists, incorrect compensation assessments, and a lack of proper Gram Sabha consent.
• A resurvey in Chhatarpur district identified 638 additional eligible families, increasing the total beneficiaries from 3,080 to 3,718.
• The project has faced significant protests, including the 'Chita Andolan' (funeral pyre protest) and 'Jal Satyagraha', highlighting concerns over displacement and environmental impact.
• Environmental concerns include the submergence of 5,578 hectares of forest land and parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ken-Betwa Link Project: India's first major inter-state river interlinking initiative, designed to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
• Inter-basin river linking: A water resource management strategy that involves connecting two or more river basins to transfer water from surplus to deficit areas.
• Gram Sabha: A statutory body and foundational institution of local self-government in India, comprising all adult voters in a village, responsible for local governance and development.
• Bundelkhand: A drought-prone geographical and cultural region in central India, spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, characterized by water scarcity.