Ken Betwa Link Project

Indian rivers can be connected via a system of reservoirs and canals. River interlinking is done because while certain areas of the nation have annual floods, many others suffer from drought. The main motive behind the river interlinking project is to enhance irrigation and groundwater recharge, as well as lessen recurring floods and water scarcity in some regions. Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said that the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the "flagship" project of the national government and "crucial for the water security and socio-economic development of the Bundelkhand region." The KBLP, which would cost a total of Rs 44,605 crore, was authorized by the Union Cabinet in December 2021. This project is delayed due to political and environmental concerns.

• The concept of joining rivers was first proposed by Sir Arthur Cotton in 1919.
• KL Rao, who was the State Minister for Energy and Irrigation in 1960, suggested linking the Ganga and Kaveri rivers, reviving this proposal.
• Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi founded the National Water Development Agency in 1982.
• In 2002, the government was ordered by the Supreme Court to finish a plan for joining rivers by 2003 and put it into action by 2016.
• The government formed a task team in 2003 to address the issue.
• The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project was approved by the Cabinet in 2014. But it faced resistance, mostly from environmentalists.
• The first river interlinking project in India, which aimed to join the Betwa in Uttar Pradesh with the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh, eventually got underway in 2021, around forty years after it was initially conceived.

• The goal of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is to move excess water from the Madhya Pradesh (MP) Ken River to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Betwa to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand area.
• These areas mostly exist in the districts of Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur, and Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, and Tikamgarh, Panna, and Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.
• A 230-kilometer canal and a 77-meter-tall, 2-kilometer-wide Dhaudhan dam were to be constructed within the Panna Tiger Reserve and will be created as part of this project.
• Ken-Betwa is one of the important river linking projects out of the 30 river interlinking projects that are envisioned nationwide.

• The project is divided into two stages, and each phase has four primary components.
  • The Daudhan Dam complex and its subsidiary units, including the Ken-Betwa Link Canal, the low-level tunnel, the high-level tunnel, and powerhouses, will be involved in Phase I.
  • The Bina Complex Project, the Kotha Barrage, and the Lower Orr Dam over the Orr River, a tributary of the Betwa, will be involved in Phase II.

• Water Transfer: - One of the focus areas of this project is to construct the canal of 230 km length and transfer the water from the Ken to the Water-deficit Betwa river .
• Water Storage:- To construct the dam on the Ken river to store water to irrigate 6.3Ha of land every year.
• Water Conservation:- To conserve the water received during monsoon times. It is envisaged to serve drinking water to 62 lakh people in that area.
• Hydropower:- With potential to generate 34 million kilowatts of hydropower.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is developing a Comprehensive Landscape Management Plan (LMP) to conserve wildlife and biodiversity in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and adjoining areas, aiming to mitigate the impact of the river interlinking project.

• Environmental: Due to specific environmental and animal conservation issues (such as crossing through important tiger habitat in the Panna Tiger Reserve), the project is awaiting clearance from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). It is also a concern that the project will jeopardize Panna's water security. 6 million trees will be cut. The Environmental Impact Assessment of the project had some factual errors.
• Economic: A significant financial expense that has been increasing as a result of project implementation delays.
• Social: The project's execution will result in social costs for reconstruction and rehabilitation related to relocation of people.
• Legal: The approval that has been given to the KBLP has serious legal issues as well.
  • The project has been deemed 'not crucial' by the The Supreme Court Central Empowered Committee (CEC). This means that water flow cannot be diverted from the Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • Project is yet to achieve full forest clearance.
  • The Environmental Impact Assessment and approval has been challenged before National Green Tribunal

• The National River Linking Project (NRLP), formerly known as the National Perspective Plan under interbasin water transfer initiatives, aims to transfer water from water "surplus" basins—where there is flooding—to water "deficit" basins—where there is drought or shortage.
• For the conducting feasibility studies (FRs) under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has designated 30 linkages (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component).
• The NPP for moving water from water-surplus basins to water-deficit basins was developed in August 1980.

The river interlinking projects have a lofty goal to tackle water management issues across the country. The Ken Betwa River-Interlinking project is the first of 30 from the National River Interlinking Plan by the National Water Development Agency. It is not without its challenges. While the project will contribute to irrigation and hydropower, it will also displace a large number of people and significantly impact the rich biodiversity of the region.

The concerns raised by the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee need to be addressed carefully and expeditiously. Fair compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 should be given to the displaced. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAMPA, 2016) should be adhered to and afforestation for the diverted portions must be undertaken. Also, cost-effective environmentally friendly alternative measures to restore historical lakes and ponds along with traditional methods should be used to sustainably conserve water in the Bundelkhand region.

Lessons must be learnt from the implementation of the first River-Interlinking project for all others. Proper process, environmental clearance and adherence to rule of law is must to ensure justice and development for all. This will also enable efficient use of resources and on-time completion of project.