A near-complete dam linked to Ken-Betwa project is yet to get environment clearance

Subject : Geography

Section: Mapping

Context:

The Lower Orr dam, a crucial part of Madhya Pradesh’s contribution to the Ken-Betwa River interlinking project, has been found in violation of environmental clearance laws by an expert committee of the Union Environment Ministry.

Details:

Documents reveal that the dam construction began in 2019 without obtaining formal clearance from the Ministry, leading to a recommendation in December 2022 for necessary legal action against the project proponent, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA).
The NWDA, a Jal Shakti Ministry body, had completed a significant portion of the dam and canal network (82% and 33.5%, respectively) without proper clearances, including lacking a ‘consent to operate’ certificate.

Fresh assessment:

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has advised the developers of the Lower Orr Dam project to undergo a new environmental appraisal, with the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) required to provide additional data on potential damages.
Because the project involved diverting forest land, a separate Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is expected to weigh the project proposal and recommend such diversion.

Lower Orr Dam Project:

The Lower Orr project envisages providing irrigation and drinking water, on about 90,000 hectares, spanning the Shivpuri and Datia districts of the drought-prone Bundelkhand regions of Madhya Pradesh.
This includes a dam over the Orr river and a separate system of barrages.

Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP):

The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the River interlinking project that aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
The region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.
The project involves building a 77-metre tall and a 2-km wide Dhaudhan dam and a 230-km canal.
Ken-Betwa is one of the 30 river interlinking projects conceived across the country.
The project has been delayed due to political and environmental issues.
It would submerge 58.03 sq. km (10.07%) of critical tiger habitats in the Panna Tiger Reserve and 50% loss to the habitat of a highly endangered vulture species.

Ken, Betwa and Orr Rivers:

Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
Orr river is a tributary of Betwa river.
Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.