20-Jul-2022: Second Meeting of Steering Committee of Ken-Betwa Link Project

Second meeting of Steering Committee of Ken-Betwa Link Project (SC-KBLP)

Held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Chaired by Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Attended by representatives of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Central Ministries, and NITI Aayog

Opening Remarks

• Ken-Betwa link project critical for water security and socio-economic development of Bundelkhand region
• Should be implemented in time bound manner using state of the art technologies and know-how
• R&R of project affected people and conservation of region must be taken care of
• Landscape dependent species of Panna Tiger Reserve must be conserved

Deliberations on various agenda items

• Covering follow-up actions on decisions taken during 1st meeting
• Work plan for year 2022-23
• Engagement of Project Management Consultancy
• Land acquisition and R&R of affected villages
• Establishment of offices of Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority
• Implementation of integrated landscape management plan prepared by Wildlife Institute of India for Greater Panna
• Financial powers of KBLPA
• Reimbursement to State on expenditure made

Proposed Committees and Councils

• Technical Advisory Group for KBLP to review and advise on various planning and technical matters
• R&R Committee to monitor implementation of R&R plan in transparent and time bound manner
• Greater Panna Landscape Council to implement Landscape Management Plan (LMP) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project.

14-Mar-2022: Wildlife clearance for Ken-Betwa project

Environmental Clearance and Wildlife Clearance for Ken-Betwa Link Project granted by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) respectively

Project Aim

• Providing water security in the Bundelkhand region
• Ensuring overall conservation of the region
• Landscape dependent species such as tiger, vultures, and gharials

Hydrological Studies

• Carried out by National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee
• Scrutinized and appraised by Central Water Commission (CWC)
• Clearance by Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti
• 129th meeting held on 8th July, 2016
• Annual yield of Ken river at proposed Daudhan dam site assessed at 6,590 MCM at 75 percent dependability
• Water requirement for the project estimated at 4,050 MCM for irrigation and drinking water
• Adequate water available at the location

Submergence and Affected Families

• Total submergence due to Dhaudhan reservoir shall be 9,000 ha
• Including 4,141 ha of Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) core, 1,314 ha of PTR buffer, and 2,171 ha of village land of 10 villages
• About 1,913 families will be affected in these villages

Landscape Management Plan (LMP)

• Prepared by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
• Options for habitat consolidation and conservation of Panna landscape
• Proposed Panna landscape identified by keeping PTR in the center and connecting all the adjoining forest divisions
• Includes 11 districts (3 in UP and 8 in MP) and a total area of around 47,620 sq. km
• Total forest area in the landscape is 12,125 sq. km
• Stakeholders, forest managers, and experts consulted at every stage of preparation of LMP

8-Dec-2021: Cabinet approves Ken-Betwa Interlinking of Rivers Project
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has approved the funding and implementation of Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers project.

The total cost of Ken-Betwa link project has been assessed at Rs.41gKFtogHYuTLgtmff2zbx9hk7DWS8VB612gDjf1YFPsfT66jV4UFCBNJSsUKKBpwf9y4CunA1UoucxSkm8NLtmRFxDFATc,317 crore for the project, covering grant of Rs.36,290 crore and loan of Rs.3,027 crore.
The project will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects in India and also showcase to the world our ingenuity and vision.

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 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 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 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.

Background: On 22nd March 2021, a historic agreement was signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the first major centrally driven river interlinking project in the country. This agreement heralds the beginning of inter- state cooperation to implement the vision of Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee to carry water from areas that have surpluses to drought prone and water deficit areas, through the interlinking of rivers.

29-Nov-2021: Funds Allocation of Ken-Betwa River Linking Project

The National Perspective Plan (NPP) was prepared by the then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in August 1980 for water resources development through inter basin transfer of water, for transferring water from water surplus basins to water-deficit basins. Under the NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component & 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of Feasibility Reports.

Issues related to funds allocation and utilization for Ken- Betwa Link project (KBLP) will come at the stage of implementation of the project.  A tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the implementation of the project jointly has been signed by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti and Hon’ble Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on 22.03.2021 in the august presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

Feasibility Report of Mahanadi (Barmul) –Godavari (Dowlaiswaram) Link project [an alternate to Mahanadi (Manibhadra) – Godavari (Dowlaiswaram)] was completed and circulated to the concerned States in October, 2020. Interlinking of Rivers projects depend entirely on according of consent by party States.

The river link schemes under ILR Programme have been formulated by considering all relevant engineering parameters like hydrological, meteorological, hydraulic, topographical, geological, geotechnical parameters and other factors like Socio – economic factors, Submergence issues, Environmental Impact Assessment factors and Rehabilitation and Resettlement issues etc.

23-Sep-2020: Union Minister for Jal Shakti holds virtual meeting with Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to expedite the implementation of Ken - Betwa Link Project

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat held a meeting through Video Conference with the Minister of Water Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Minister of Jal Shakti, Government of Uttar Pradesh to discuss and  finalise the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for implementation of Ken-Betwa Link Project(KBLP).

The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Additional Secretary and Advisor of Ministry of Jal Shakti and other senior officials from both the States and NWDA.  The Union Minister for Jal Shakti Shri Shekhawat emphasized that the Ken-Betwa Link is a dream Project of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji for the development of the drought prone Bundelkhand Region. Shri Shekhawat also said that Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has also stressed the need for early implementation of this project for the overall socio-economic development of Bundelkhand Region.

The Union Minister requested both the States to rise above small issues and reach consensus for early implementation of the KBLP project as it will transform the drought prone and water starved Bundelkhand region and is likely to trigger regional economic growth. The  project will provide an annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha (CCA of 9.04 lakh ha), drinking water supply to a population of about 62 Lakhs in the region and also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power utilizing about 4843 MCM of water.

During the meeting, the draft MoA for the implementation of KBLP was discussed at length. Both the States conveyed their observations on the draft MoA, particularly on the issue of sharing of water during the lean period. It was decided that the draft MoA for the implementation of KBLP shall be firmed up in next few days, duly incorporating the views/suggestions of both the States. The Chief Minister level meeting can then be convened at the earliest to finalize and sign the MoA for the implementation of KBLP.

13-Jan-2017: Ken-Betwa river linking project gets green panel’s nod

Ken-Betwa river interlinking project that will irrigate 6.35 lakh hectares and mitigate drinking water woes of Bundelkhand region has received clearance from the green panel and Tribal Affairs ministry. However, the final clearance for the project is yet to be given by Union Minister of Environment and Forest, which normally takes into account the green panel EAC’s recommendation.

The environmental appraisal committee (EAC) had “duly considered” and “agreed” for the phase I of the project in its meeting held on December 30, 2016.

5-Jan-2017: Ken-Betwa river-linking project faces financial hurdle

Ken-Betwa river interlink project faces a new hurdle in terms of financing. The NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) has recommended that Madhya Pradesh contribute 40 per cent of the project cost, with the Centre contributing 60 per cent. The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has opposed this and requested that 90 per cent of the funds be routed through the Centre.

Senior officials of the ministry have discussed the matter with the NITI Aayog but a final decision has not been taken yet. A lack of clarity on the funding pattern could mean more delays to the Rs. 10,000-crore project that would be the first ever inter-State river interlinking project.

The project was given a go-ahead by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at a meeting chaired by Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Anil Madhav Dave, last August. An environment clearance panel has, according to officials in the water ministry, also cleared the project on 30th December.

This will be the first time that a river project will be located within a tiger reserve.

The Rs. 10,000-crore Ken-Betwa project will irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region but, in the process, also submerge about 10 per cent of the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, feted as a model tiger conservation reserve.

The main feature of the project is a 230-km long canal and a series of barrages and dams connecting the Ken and Betwa rivers that will irrigate 3.5 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 14,000 hectares of Uttar Pradesh in Bundelkhand. The key projects are the Makodia and Dhaudhan dams, the latter expected to be 77 metres high and responsible for submerging 5,803 hectares of tiger habitat in the Panna Tiger Reserve.

When, and if, the proposed reservoir is filled to the brim, 6,221 hectares will be inundated — of this, 4,141 hectares is core forest and located inside the reserve. A key point of contention between wildlife experts associated with the impact assessment and dam proponents in the MoWR was whether the height of the Daudhan dam could be reduced to limit the water overflow.

The MoWR had refused to agree to this, saying it would compromise the economic viability of the project. The records of the August meeting suggest wildlife experts were convinced.