Ken-Betwa Link Project

Source: PIB
GS I: Indian Geography- River interlinking, GS II: Governance, GS III: Environmental Impact Assessment

Why in the News?

The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first priority project under the National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers to enter the implementation stage

News in Brief

• The foundation stone was laid on 25 December 2024;
• The Daudhan Dam and associated components are under construction, while the link canal is yet to begin.
• The project is targeted for completion by 2030.

About Ken-Betwa Link Project

• The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is a major water-resources development project intended to address the long-standing water scarcity and irrigation challenges of the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• The project envisages transfer of water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin through a system comprising the Daudhan Dam, link canal and associated works.

Need for the project

• Bundelkhand region has historically faced recurrent water scarcity, dependence on rainfall, inadequate irrigation facilities, declining groundwater availability in several areas and vulnerability of agriculture to drought.
• The Ken Betwa Link Project is designed to provide more dependable water availability for irrigation and drinking-water requirements while also generating renewable energy and supporting broader regional development.
• The project is therefore a comprehensive water-security and regional-development initiative for Bundelkhand.

Major Benefits of Ken-Betwa Link Project

• The Project will provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh ha.
• Provide drinking water to about 62 lakh people,
• Generate 103 MW of hydropower
• Produce 27 MW of solar power.
• Thus, it will supply clean drinking water, electricity, and reliable year-round irrigation across vast farmlands in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, permanently resolving the long-standing water crisis in the Bundelkhand region.

Major Benefits

• Agriculture
  • The project will provide more reliable irrigation, reduce dependence on uncertain monsoon rainfall, increase cropping intensity and productivity, promote crop diversification and high-value crops, reduce drought vulnerability and improve farm incomes.
• Water Security
  • It will provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares and drinking water to around 62 lakh people, strengthening water security in Bundelkhand.
• Energy
  • The project will generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power, adding to the region’s clean-energy capacity.
• Employment & Regional Development
  • Construction and related activities are creating employment in engineering, transport, material supply and services.
  • Improved water availability is expected to support agriculture and allied activities, increase local economic activity and reduce distress migration.
• Human Development
  • Reliable drinking water can improve public health, sanitation, education, livelihoods and household security, while reducing the time spent by families, particularly women, in collecting water.

Geographical Coverage

• Madhya Pradesh: The project will benefit Chhatarpur, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Panna, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen districts.
• Uttar Pradesh: The beneficiary districts include Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur.

Groundwater & Drought

• Drought Resilience: The KBLP is not expected to completely eliminate drought.
• Instead, it aims to improve water security and make the region more resilient to drought by providing dependable irrigation and drinking water.
• Groundwater: Greater availability of surface water could reduce dependence on groundwater.
• Rejuvenation and feeding of tanks along the canal may also support groundwater recharge.
  • However, the actual improvement will depend on local hydrogeological conditions and sustainable groundwater use.

Flood & Downstream Concerns

• Downstream Water- The project provides for continuous minimum environmental water releases to protect downstream farming, drinking-water needs and aquatic ecosystems.
• Flood Management- The dam is designed to act as a buffer during heavy monsoon.
  •  Automated spillway gates and 24×7 control rooms will monitor inflows and help prevent sudden flooding in low-lying areas.

Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation

Land Requirement

• Land is required for the Daudhan Dam, reservoir/submergence area, link canal, powerhouses, access roads, project infrastructure, colonies, construction facilities and other ancillary works.

Affected Villages & Public Hearing

• In Madhya Pradesh, 22 villages are affected—8 in Panna and 14 in Chhatarpur. Public hearings were conducted as part of the Environmental Clearance process under the EIA Notification, 2006.

Legal Framework & PAFs

• Land acquisition is being undertaken under the RFCTLARR/LARR Act, 2013 and applicable state laws.
• A Project Affected Family (PAF) may include landowners, tenants, agricultural labourers, sharecroppers, livelihood-affected persons, and eligible Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers.
• Thus, land ownership is not the only basis for R&R benefits.

Special R&R Package

• The Madhya Pradesh Government has provided a Special R&R Package covering land compensation, compensation for houses and other immovable assets, house-plot assistance and additional support for eligible SC/ST families in Scheduled Areas.
• Families can choose the applicable benefits under the approved package.

Compensation Status

• Compensation has been awarded and paid to a substantial majority of affected families, with the remaining payments linked to completion of the required legal formalities.

Livelihood Support

• Affected families may receive vocational and skill-development training, financial assistance for Self-Help Groups (SHGs), support for small businesses and priority employment in project operations.

Social Support

• The project also provides medical camps, mobile health services, school infrastructure support and scholarships.
• Efforts are made to enrol children of displaced families in schools and Anganwadi centres and connect families with relevant welfare schemes.

Grievance Redressal

• Re-surveys, land-record reviews, compensation updates, Field Facilitation Officers, grievance camps and the National Monitoring Committee help address issues and support affected families.

Rights of Tribal and Forest-Dependent Communities

• Protection of Rights- The rights of Scheduled Tribes and other forest-dependent communities are protected under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, through the statutory process of recognising and settling their forest rights.
• Gram Sabha Consent – The concerned District Collectors initiated the process to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the relevant Gram Sabhas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
  • Forest Clearance for the project was subsequently accorded by MoEFCC on 3 October 2023, subject to applicable statutory requirements.

Environmental and Legal Clearances

• Statutory Clearances- The project has received the required clearances, including Environmental Clearance (2017), Wildlife Clearance (2016), Ministry of Tribal Affairs clearance (2017) and Forest Clearance (2023).
• Environmental Assessment- The environmental impacts were studied as part of the statutory clearance process. The project has an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) along with measures for environmental management, compensatory afforestation, wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection.
• Panna Tiger Reserve- Since the project has implications for the Panna landscape, measures include compensatory afforestation, habitat management, catchment-area treatment and the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) for the Greater Panna Landscape.
  • An equivalent area of non-forest land has also been provided adjacent to the Reserve’s core area for compensatory purposes.
• Wildlife Conservation- The conservation approach covers landscape-dependent species such as the tiger, vulture and gharial.
  • The Wildlife Institute of India prepared the ILMP covering the Panna Tiger Reserve and surrounding areas to strengthen wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
• Greater Panna Landscape Council
  • A comprehensive Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) has been prepared for the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) & surrounding areas.
  • The GPLC, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and involving relevant stakeholders, has been constituted to ensure systematic and time-bound implementation of the landscape management plan.
  • Funds have been earmarked for the EMP and ILMP, with the model intended as a template for future development.
• Compensatory Afforestation- Where approved forest diversion takes place, compensatory afforestation and other prescribed measures are undertaken under applicable forest laws to compensate for the diversion and support long-term ecological restoration.
• Biodiversity Protection- Biodiversity impacts have been considered during project planning.
  • Mitigation and conservation measures are being used to reduce and manage unavoidable impacts, with environmental monitoring planned during both construction and operation.

Conclusion

The Ken-Betwa Link Project can strengthen Bundelkhand’s water and agricultural security while supporting regional development.

Its long-term success, however, will depend on balancing these benefits with environmental protection, effective rehabilitation of affected families and sustainable water management.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP):

1. KBLP involves the transfer of water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin.
2. The project is the first priority project under the National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers to enter the implementation stage.
3. The project is not limited to irrigation, it also includes drinking-water supply and power-generation components.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains Practice Question 

Q. The Ken-Betwa Link Project represents the potential of water-resource development  to address regionl water scarcity, but also highlights the challenges of balancing development with environmental  protection and the  rights of displaced communities.  Discuss. (250 Words)

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