Ken-Betwa Link Project: Benefits and Challenges – Explained Pointwise

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a ‘flagship’ project of the Government and ‘it is critical for the water security and socio-economic development of Bundelkhand region’. The project was approved in December 2021 by the Union Government. The Ken-Betwa Link project is expected to cost INR 44,605 crore. While the project is expected to benefit the local population, however, the tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna and Chhatarpur districts have recently protested, citing displacement, inadequate compensation, livelihood losses and concerns over their cultural and forest rights.
The protests, including ‘Chita Andolan’ and ‘Jal Satyagraha’, highlight the need to balance developmental objectives with equitable rehabilitation & tribal rights.

What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

• The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. Under this project, water from the Ken river will be transferred to the Betwa river. Both these rivers are tributaries of river Yamuna.

• The Ken-Betwa Link project was conceptualised in the 1980s. However, the water-sharing agreement could not be reached between the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The work on the project was originally slated to begin in 2015 but got delayed. The project got a fresh push in 2020-21, with the Union Government making a revised deal with the two states ( Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).

Source: Indian Express

• The Project has two phases.
  1. Under Phase-I, Daudhan Dam complex (along with Low and High Level Tunnels) and Ken-Betwa Link Canal and Powerhouses will be completed. The Daudhan Dam will be built on the Ken river within the Panna Tiger Reserve. The dam will generate 103 MW of hydroelectric power.
  2. Under Phase-II, there are 3 components. Under this, Lower Orr dam, Bina Complex Project and Kotha Barrage will be constructed.
• This project will benefit people across the districts of MP and UP i.e. Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts in MP and Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts in UP.
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) will be set up to implement the project.

What are the benefits of Ken-Betwa Link Project?

1. Expansion of Irrigation: The project is expected to provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, reducing dependence on monsoons, improving agricultural productivity, enabling crop diversification and enhancing farmers’ incomes.
2. Drinking Water Security: The project will provide about 194 MCM of drinking water annually to nearly 62 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, improving access to reliable water supplies in water-stressed Bundelkhand.
3. Drought Mitigation: The Ken-Betwa Link Project will provide assured water to drought-prone Bundelkhand, reducing dependence on erratic monsoons, improving irrigation, strengthening water security, supporting agriculture and livelihoods, and enhancing resilience against recurring droughts.
4. Hydropower and Renewable Energy: The project is expected to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power, contributing to clean energy generation, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and supporting regional energy security.
5. Agricultural Development: Assured irrigation can increase cropping intensity, promote crop diversification, improve agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on erratic monsoons. This can enhance farm incomes, strengthen rural livelihoods and contribute to greater food security in Bundelkhand.
6. Employment Generation: The project is expected to create employment during construction and subsequently through expanded irrigation, agriculture, fisheries and allied activities, thereby strengthening rural livelihoods, stimulating local economies and improving income opportunities in Bundelkhand.
7. Reduction in Distress Migration: By providing assured irrigation, drinking water and livelihood opportunities, the Ken-Betwa Link Project can improve rural incomes and employment in Bundelkhand, thereby reducing distress migration caused by recurring droughts and water scarcity.
8. Potential Model for River Interlinking: As the first major river-linking project under implementation, the Ken-Betwa project can provide valuable lessons on inter-State cooperation, water-sharing mechanisms, environmental management, rehabilitation and the feasibility of future river interlinking projects.

What are the challenges associated with the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

What should be the way forward?

1. Ensure time-bound Rehabilitation & Resettlement: Provide fair compensation, alternative land where appropriate, livelihood restoration and long-term support to all Project Affected Families. Move beyond monetary compensation to livelihood-based rehabilitation for displaced Gond and Kol tribal families i.e. land-for-land where possible, skill training, and priority access to the very irrigation benefits the project promises.
2. Strengthen ecological safeguards: Strictly implement the Environmental Management Plan and the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) for the Panna landscape, with continuous monitoring of tigers, gharials, vultures and other biodiversity.
3. Adopt adaptive water management: Continuously monitor rainfall, river flows, groundwater levels and climate variability, and dynamically adjust water allocation and releases to ensure equitable distribution, drought resilience and sustainable use of transferred water.
4. Promote water-use efficiency: Complement the project with micro-irrigation, watershed development, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge to reduce water wastage, improve irrigation efficiency, enhance drought resilience and ensure sustainable utilisation of transferred water. Pair large-scale transfers with the restoration of Bundelkhand’s historic Chandela and Bundela era tanks, check dams, and local stepwells (baolis).
5. Ensure inter-State cooperation: Establish transparent mechanisms between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for equitable water sharing, data exchange, dispute resolution and coordinated reservoir management, particularly during droughts and periods of water scarcity.
6. Use technology-based monitoring: Deploy GIS, remote sensing, satellite imagery and real-time hydrological monitoring to assess water availability, track environmental impacts, monitor project implementation and enable timely corrective measures, ensuring efficient and sustainable management of the project.
7. Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC): Empower the GPLC and the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) with independent technical and ecological oversight to ensure compliance with clearance conditions.
8. Create a model for future river-linking: Lessons from KBLP should inform future projects regarding hydrological assessment, environmental clearance, inter-State consensus, rehabilitation and benefit-sharing. The government itself envisages the project as an important model for resolving inter-State water issues.

Conclusion: According to the Government, the Ken-Betwa project can address the issues related to water scarcity in the region. Irrigation and hydropower projects will contribute to prosperity of the region. However, there are legitimate environment & social concerns vis-a-vis benefits of the project. The Government should address these concerns and ensure that the adverse impacts on the local population and biodiversity are minimized.