Ken-Betwa Link Project: Overview, Benefits, and Environmental-Social Concerns

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. This initiative aims to divert surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, promising to enhance prosperity in the Bundelkhand region.

Overview of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP)

Objective:
The KBLP seeks to connect the Ken and Betwa rivers—tributaries of the Yamuna—through a 221-km canal and a 2-km tunnel, supported by a 73.8-meter-high dam on the Ken River at Daudhan, located in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district.

History:

• Conceptualized in the 1980s, the project faced delays due to inter-state disputes over water sharing.
• Originally planned to start in 2015, it gained momentum with a revised agreement.
• On March 22, 2021, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, along with the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, signed a memorandum to implement the project.

Phases of Development:

1. Phase I: Construction of the Daudhan Dam complex, tunnels, Ken-Betwa Link Canal, and powerhouses.
2. Phase II: Development of Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

Timeline:
The project is expected to be completed within eight years, as per the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Regions Benefiting from KBLP

The project primarily addresses water scarcity in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone area spanning 13 districts across two states:

• Madhya Pradesh: Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen.
• Uttar Pradesh: Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur.

Key Benefits of the Project

1. Irrigation: Enables irrigation for 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2.51 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh).
2. Drinking Water: Provides drinking water to approximately 62 lakh people.
3. Power Generation: Produces 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.

Environmental Concerns

1. Deforestation:

• Approximately 98 sq. km of Panna National Park will be submerged, resulting in the loss of 2–3 million trees.

2. Wildlife Threats:

• Tigers: The Daudhan Dam poses risks to the tiger reintroduction program in Panna, which revived the population after 2009.
• Gharials and Vultures: Likely to disrupt the gharial population in the Ken Gharial Sanctuary and vulture nesting sites downstream.

3. Hydrological Risks:

• IIT-Bombay researchers predict a 12% reduction in September rainfall due to altered land-atmosphere feedback.
• Experts call for transparent hydrological data for better project assessment.

Social Impacts

1. Displacement: The project will uproot 5,228 families in Chhatarpur and 1,400 families in Panna due to submergence and land acquisition.
2. Inadequate Compensation: Protests highlight dissatisfaction with compensation packages, especially in Panna, where affected communities argue that benefits do not justify the losses.

Criticism and Controversy

• Wildlife and Environmental Clearances: The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) raised concerns about the project’s ecological and economic feasibility.
• Violation of Precedents: Despite norms prohibiting large-scale construction in core tiger reserve areas, the Union Environment Ministry approved infrastructure within the Panna Tiger Reserve.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a transformative initiative aiming to address water scarcity and promote development. However, significant environmental and social challenges demand careful management to ensure balanced outcomes.