Ken-Betwa River Linking Project: Key Features and Concerns

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Tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh recently launched protests against the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project (KBRL) due to worries about land displacement, compensation, and damage to local ecosystems.

The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project is India’s first river-linking project and forms part of the 30 inter-river links planned under the National Perspective Plan of 1980.
A dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle called the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority handles the execution of this major water infrastructure initiative.
The core goal of this project is to move surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the water-deficit Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh.
Both the Ken River and the Betwa River act as key tributaries of the Yamuna River.

Under Phase I, workers will construct the Daudhan Dam complex, a low-level tunnel, a high-level tunnel, the main link canal, and powerhouses.
Under Phase II, the project will build the Lower Orr Dam across the Orr River, which flows as a tributary into the Betwa, alongside the Bina Complex Multipurpose Project and Kotha Barrage.
This inter-linking project has a target to produce 103 MW of hydroelectric power and 27 MW of solar energy.

The project targets the Bundelkhand region, which frequently suffers from severe drought across districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Successful completion will bring reliable drinking water, expand farm irrigation, boost the rural economy, and prevent distress migration from villages.

Environmental experts have raised serious concerns about the threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve.
The creation of the Daudhan reservoir will submerge around 4,141 hectares of the tiger reserve's core area and 1,314 hectares of its buffer zone.

To address public anger, the Madhya Pradesh government sanctioned an extra ₹300 crore for rehabilitation efforts under the Majhgaon and Runjh irrigation schemes.
Authorities also conducted a new field survey that added nearly 750 additional affected families to the official compensation list.