Ken-Betwa river-linking project: Centre's ambitious Rs 45,600-crore project and the concerns around it explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (December 25) laid the foundation stone for the ambitious Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho. This flagship initiative aims to address the chronic water scarcity plaguing the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi shed light on the transformative potential of the project. "The people of Bundelkhand have long struggled for every drop of water, yet previous governments failed to provide a lasting solution. Even after seven decades of Independence, disputes over river water between States persisted, with no concrete efforts to resolve them," the PM said. He described the project as a critical step toward ensuring water security and fostering socio-economic development in the region.

While the Ken-Betwa Link Project promises a lifeline for Bundelkhand, it has sparked debates over its viability. Significant legal, environmental and technical concerns loom large, casting doubt on its long-term success. Critics question whether the promised prosperity can outweigh the potential ecological costs and unresolved challenges tied to the project.

What is Ken-Betwa Link Project?

Approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore, KBLP aims to connect the Ken and Betwa rivers via a canal. The Daudhan Dam on the Ken River, located within the Panna Tiger Reserve, will serve as the water source. The project promises to irrigate 6.3 lakh hectares annually, supply drinking water and generate 103 MW of hydroelectric power. The canal is planned to traverse Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Jhansi districts.

Yet, experts have expressed skepticism over the government's reliance on a "surplus and deficit" water model, citing insufficient scientific validation. Hydrological inconsistencies, coupled with ecological fragility, cast a shadow over KBLP's long-term benefits.

Cost of development

The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is set to roll out in two distinct phases. Phase I will focus on building the Daudhan Dam along with essential infrastructure, such as tunnels and powerhouses.

Phase II will see the development of the Lower Orr Dam, the Bina Complex Project and the Kotha Barrage. The contract for constructing the Daudhan Dam has been awarded to infrastructure giant NCC Ltd.

The government has portrayed the project as a lifeline for Bundelkhand, promising irrigation, drinking water and hydroelectric power. However, hasty implementation without thorough technical and legal scrutiny risks exacerbating water conflicts between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, squandering public funds and dashing local expectations.

Environmental and legal challenges around KBLP

The Congress party has slammed the government for pushing ahead with the Ken-Betwa Link Project, accusing it of prioritising political gains over ecological responsibility. The timing of the inauguration, they claim, underscores a disregard for the severe environmental costs, particularly for the Panna Tiger Reserve.

This sanctuary, which has become a symbol of successful tiger conservation, now faces the threat of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss as vast stretches of forestland risk submergence under the project.

Panna, which lost all its tigers by 2009, underwent a decade-long conservation effort to reintroduce the species successfully. The proposed dam threatens to submerge the reserve’s deep gorges, critical for tiger habitation, thereby undoing years of ecological restoration.

The Jal Shakti Ministry, however, remains steadfast in its defense of the project. Brushing aside the criticisms, officials claim that the potential benefits far surpass the environmental trade-offs. “The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a game-changer for Bundelkhand,” the ministry declared in a statement. “It will eliminate water scarcity, paving the way for the region’s socio-economic transformation,” it added.

Addressing concerns about the potential impact of the river-linking project on wildlife at the Panna Tiger Reserve, Prime Minister Modi assured that the well-being of the reserve’s animals would be a priority during the construction of the canal. "We will ensure that the needs of the animals are taken into account as the project moves forward," he stated.

Ecological and hydrological concerns

The Ken River, a non-perennial source, raises doubts about its ability to sustain the Betwa and meet Bundelkhand's demands. State agency reports have presented inconsistent data, reinforcing the need for an independent hydrological investigation — a step yet to be undertaken.

Critics argue that restoring traditional water systems, such as Bundelkhand’s historic Chandel-era lakes and ponds, could address the region’s water woes more sustainably. Field-pond schemes have also proven effective locally, further questioning the necessity of an expensive and ecologically disruptive dam.