On the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PM Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project.
Congress Criticism
The Congress raised concerns about the project, citing potential environmental risks to the Panna Tiger Reserve.
What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?
The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
- Canal Construction: A 221-km-long canal with a 2-km tunnel.
- Irrigation: Water for 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh hectares in MP and 2.51 lakh hectares in UP).
- Drinking Water: Supply to 62 lakh people.
- Energy Production: 103 MW hydropower and 27 MW solar power.
This is the first initiative under the 1980 National Perspective Plan for river interlinking, which includes 16 peninsular projects and 14 Himalayan links.
Project Phases
- Phase I: Daudhan Dam, tunnels, Ken-Betwa Link Canal, and powerhouses.
- Phase II: Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex, and Kotha Barrage.
Key Developments
- Union Cabinet Approval: Cleared in December 2021 with a budget of ₹44,605 crore.
- Daudhan Dam: A 2,031-meter structure (1,233 meters earthen and 798 meters concrete) with a height of 77 meters.
- Land Submergence: 9,000 hectares of land, affecting 10 villages.
- Timeline: Construction, led by NCC Ltd, is expected to take eight years.
Project History
- 2005: A tripartite agreement was signed for a detailed project report.
- 2008: Declared a National Project and included in the PM’s Bundelkhand package.
- 2018: Finalization of the detailed project report.
This decades-long effort aims to address water scarcity in Bundelkhand, balancing development and environmental concerns.
Ayushi Kaushik
Bjmc 5
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