A near-complete dam linked to Ken-Betwa project is yet to get environment clearance
- January 14, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.