Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Ken-Betwa Link Project at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.This Rs 45,000 crore initiative, as part of the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for interlinking of rivers, aims to address the water supply shortage in Bundelkhand. Along with KBLP, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Daudhan Dam Irrigation Project, which will benefit 11 lakh hectares of land in the region.The Prime Minister also inaugurated Madhya Pradesh’s first floating solar project at Omkareshwar, a significant step towards adopting renewable energy.
Ken-Betwa Link Project
What are the main features of Ken-Betwa Link Project
- KBLP is India’s first initiative under NPP, formulated in 1980 to interlink rivers, implemented by Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority.
- It aims to transfer surplus water from Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh, both of which are tributaries of Yamuna.
Phase of the Project
- Phase I: Construction of Daudhan Dam Complex, low-level and high-level tunnels, Ken-Betwa Link Project and powerhouses.
- Phase II: Construction of Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project and Kota Barrage situated on Orr/Orr River (a tributary of Betwa)
Benefits
- Irrigation of 6.3 lakh hectares of area per year.
- Drinking water supply to 62 lakh people.
- The project includes provision for hydropower generation (100 MW) and solar power (27 MW).
- Importance of Bundelkhand: Bundelkhand is a geographical region spread across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Bundelkhand has been drought-prone and water-scarce for a long time, leading to migration of people for employment.
- KBLP ensures access to drinking water, promotes agriculture and regional development with reliable irrigation, thereby reducing migration.
Environmental concerns raised by critics
- Critics have raised concerns over the environmental impact of the project, particularly on the Panna Tiger Reserve, over 10% of whose core area may be submerged.
- Critics argue that the project may cause significant damage to wildlife habitats, including tigers, vultures and other species.
- Over 2.3 million trees are expected to be felled, and the local ecosystem may be severely affected by construction activities.
- Government response: The government machinery assured that the project will consider the conservation of wildlife in the Panna Tiger Reserve and measures will be implemented to minimize the adverse impact of the project on the local ecosystem by striking a balance between development and conservation.
Ken and Betwa Rivers
- Ken River: The Ken River originates near Ahirgawan village on the northwestern slopes of the Kaimur Hills in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The river joins the Yamuna at Chilla village near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh. The Ken River is known for the rare sajar stone. Its major tributaries include the Bawas, Dewar, Kaith, Kopra and Bairma.
- Betwa River: The Betwa originates in the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh, flows through Bundelkhand, and joins the Yamuna at Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. The major tributaries of the Betwa are the Nuan, Ur and Dhasan. In ancient times, the Betwa was known as Vetravati.
Origin of River Linking Projects in India
- Sir Arthur Cotton (19th century): The idea of linking rivers was first proposed by British engineer Sir Arthur Cotton, with the aim of linking the Ganges and the Cauvery for navigation and irrigation. The Periyar Project, constructed in 1895, is a major irrigation project that diverts water from the Periyar River basin in Kerala to the Vaigai River basin in Tamil Nadu.
- National Water Grid: The then Union Irrigation Minister Dr. K.L. Rao proposed the creation of the National Water Grid in the 1970s. Its aim is to transfer water from water-surplus areas to water-deficit areas.
- Garland Canal: Captain Dinshaw J. Dastur proposed the Garland Canal to redistribute water from one region to another. • National Perspective Plan (1980): Prepared in 1980, aimed at inter-basin water transfer. In 1982, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was set up to carry out water balance and feasibility studies for linking of rivers.
National Perspective Plan for Linking of Rivers
- The NPP, prepared in 1980 by the Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti), aims to develop water resources through inter-basin transfer of water.Under the NPP, the task of linking of rivers has been entrusted to the NWDA.
- Components: The scheme has two main components: Himalayan Rivers and Peninsular Rivers Development.
- 30 link projects: 16 under Peninsular Component, 14 under Himalayan Component.
- Peninsular River Development Component: Focuses on linking of rivers in southern and central India. Major projects include Mahanadi-Godavari, Godavari-Krishna and Ken-Betwa links.
- Himalayan River Development Component: Its objective is to divert surplus water of the eastern tributaries of Ganga and Brahmaputra to the western regions. Notable projects related to this include Kosi-Ghaghra and Gandak-Ganga link.
- Importance: It focuses on overcoming water scarcity in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This will improve irrigation, increase agricultural productivity and increase food security. This will promote inland waterways for cargo transportation, reduce groundwater depletion and give importance to the use of surface water in order to use fresh water flowing into the sea.