The Ken Betwa project needs to be redesigned
- July 29, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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The Ken Betwa project needs to be redesigned
Subject: Geography
Context: Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement to implement the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP). The Prime Minister was a co-signatory to the Ken Betwa Project in Madhya Pradesh. The two states signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre on World Water Day(22nd March) to finally implement this ambitious project.
National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers:
- The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.
- The program for interlinking of major rivers comprises 30 links to share available waters equitably between different basins and states. The National Perspective Plan for Inter-Linking of rivers has two components:
- Himalayan Component: 14 Links
- Peninsular Component: 16 links
- The project is being managed by India’s National Water Development Agency (NWDA), under its Ministry of Water Resources.
What is the Ken Betwa Link Project?
- The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
- It is identified under the Peninsular Component of the National River Linking Project.
- Under this project, water from the Ken river will be transferred to the Betwa river. Both these rivers are tributaries of river Yamuna.
- The Ken-Betwa Link Project has two phases.
- Under Phase-I, one of the components — Daudhan dam complex and its appurtenances like Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa link canal and Power houses — will be completed.
- In the Phase-II, three components — Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage — will be constructed.
Which region will get the benefits of the KBLP?
- The Ken-Betwa Link Project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.
- The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved region of Bundelkhand, especially in the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.
Will the project affect the Panna tiger reserve?
- Out of the 6,017 ha of forest area coming under submergence of Daudhan dam of Ken Betwa Link Project, 4,206 ha of area lies within the core tiger habitat of Panna Tiger Reserve.
Are there previous examples of river-linking in India?
- In the past, several river linking projects have been taken up. For instance, under the Periyar Project, transfer of water from Periyar basin to Vaigai basin was envisaged.
- The linking of Godavari and Krishna was completed in 2015.
- Similarly, other projects such as Parambikulam Aliyar, Kurnool Cudappah Canal, Telugu Ganga Project, and Ravi-Beas-Sutlej were undertaken.
Which are the clearances required for a river-linking project?
- Generally, 4-5 types of clearances are required for the interlinking of river projects. These are:
- Techno-economic (given by the Central Water Commission)
- Forest Clearance and Environmental clearance (Ministry of Environment & Forests)
- Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Plan of Tribal Population (Ministry of Tribal Affairs)
- Wildlife clearance (Central Empowered Committee).
Ken and Betwa 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.
- Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
- Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.