All you need to know about the Ken-Betwa Link Project

To address the water shortage issues affecting many parts of the country, the central government has come up with an ambitious project for the interlinking of rivers. The Ken-Betwa link project, envisaged under the National Perspective Plan (NPP), will be one of the first river interlinking projects to be implemented in India. This project aims to provide annual irrigation for 10.62 lakh hectares, boost drinking water supply and generate hydropower of 103 MW in the Bundelkhand region.

In March 2021, the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jal Shakti Ministry, for implementing the project.

What is the 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 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.

The main objective of the NPP is the transfer of water from river basins with surplus water to those with scarce water, for tackling the problem of water scarcity. The NPP comprises two components – the Himalayan Rivers Development and Peninsular Rivers Development.

The Ken-Betwa project, the construction schedule for which has been planned for eight years, will be executed in two phases:

• Phase-I: In the first phase, the Daudhan dam complex and its appurtenances, such as low-level tunnel, high-level tunnel, 221-kilometre Ken-Betwa link canal and powerhouses will be completed.
• Phase-II: In the second phase, the lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage will be developed.

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Ken Betwa link project map

(Source: NWDA)

Ken Betwa project cost

The project will be completed at an estimated cost of around Rs 37,600 crores. The Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for implementing the project will be formed and the central government will bear 90% of the total project cost, while the rest will be borne by the states.

Ken Betwa river interlinking project timeline

• August 1980: The NPP is formulated.
• August 2005: MoU signed by state governments of MP, UP and the central government, for preparation of the DPR for the project.
• April 2010: The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) completes the DPR for phase-I of the KBLP.
• January 2014: The NWDA completes the DPR for phase-II of the project.
• September 2014: Special Committee on interlinking of rivers (ILR) constituted, for implementing the ILR programme.
• April 2015: A task force for interlinking of rivers was constituted by MoWR, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• March 2021: Governments of UP and MP sign an MoU with the Jal Shakti Ministry for implementing the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

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Ken Betwa river link project: Benefits and impact

The government envisions the programme of interlinking of rivers as a top priority, towards sustainable development of water resources in India. The Ken-Betwa link project has been planned as a multi-purpose project, for providing several benefits in terms of better utilisation of water resources and addressing the water scarcity in several parts of the Bundelkhand region.

The region is prone to recurring drought conditions that have impacted socio-economic development in the area. Moreover, owing to the hard rock and marginal alluvium terrain, the location is not rich in groundwater. Hence, the project will help in utilising the floodwater during monsoon and stabilise the availability of water during lean months, especially in drought years.

The project will also provide annual irrigation and hydropower generation. The districts that will benefit from this project include Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna in Madhya Pradesh and Jhansi, Mahoba, Banda and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. As many as 62 lakh people in the Bundelkhand region will also experience improved drinking water supply due to the project.\

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Ken-Betwa link project: Latest news and updates

The central government has planned to set up the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) that will be responsible for taking up inter-state and intra-state projects and generating funds.

Concerns raised over the environmental impact of the project

While this river interlinking project is expected to resolve the water problems in the drought-prone locations, many environment activists have expressed concerns over the impact it will have on the Panna Tiger Reserve. Over 46 lakh trees are likely to be felled due to the construction work within the national park. The tiger reserve is home to many critically endangered wildlife species. Moreover, the development of this project is also expected to result in the submergence of 6,017 hectares of forest land under the Daudhan dam of the KBLP.

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