Ken-Betwa Link National Project

Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silavat said that the work of Ken-Betwa Link National Project, which will provide irrigation facilities in 8 lakh 11 thousand hectare area in Madhya Pradesh, will start soon.

Minister Silavat said that the Ken-Betwa Link National Project is a boon not only for Bundelkhand but also for the entire Madhya Pradesh. 41 lakh population will get drinking water from this project. Along with this, 103 MW electricity will be produced. This will benefit 2040 villages in 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh. The work of the Ken-Betwa link project will be started soon.

Under the Land Acquisition Act-2013 for the construction of a dam in the project, survey and verification work of property and private land of affected villages in Panna and Chhatarpur district has been completed by the concerned district administration.

Suitable land is being selected for proper rehabilitation of the displaced. Out of 21 villages affected by the project, the process of transfer of about 3,500 hectares of government land to Panna Tiger Reserve in 14 villages has been completed by the concerned district administration.

About Ken Betwa Link Project:

• The Ken-Betwa link project (KBLP) is the first river interlinking project, among the 16 similar projects planned under the Peninsular Rivers Development of the National Perspective Plan (NPP). 
• It will connect the tributaries of the Yamuna River, namely the Ken river in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh and the Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh.
• This project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. 
• The Project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of MP and UP. This project will provide enormous benefits to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.
• The project will provide an annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water supply to a population of about 62 lakhs and also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power. The Project is proposed to be implemented in 8 years with state of the art technology. 
• The project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation. It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region. 
• This project also comprehensively provides for environment management and safeguards. For this purpose a comprehensive landscape management plan is under finalization by Wildlife Institute of India. 
• Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs). Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of eight links have been completed.