Ken Betwa Link Project

Ken Betwa Link Project- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers project with a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore.
- The Union Cabinet has approved central support of Rs 39,317 crore for the Ken Betwa Link project, covering grant of Rs 36,290 crore and loan of Rs 3,027 crore
Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), will be set up to implement the Ken Betwa River Linking project.

Background: In March 2021, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP).
Tenure of the Ken Betwa River Linking Project: Ken Betwa Link Project is proposed to be implemented in 8 years with “state of the art technology.”
About: The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for the interlinking of rivers. Both these rivers are tributaries of the river Yamuna.
- Under the Ken-Betwa link project, water will be transferred from Ken to Betwa river through the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers.
Location: Ken Betwa Link Project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Implementation: Ken Betwa Link Project will be implemented in two phases by the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA).
- Phase 1: Daudhan dam complex and its appurtenances like Low-Level Tunnel, High-Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa link canal and Powerhouses will be completed.
- Phase 2: Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha barrage will be constructed.

According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the Ken Betwa Link project is expected to provide-
- Annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh hectares,
- drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and
- also, generate 103 MW of hydropower.
Geographical Reach: According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, Ken Betwa River Link 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.
Developmental Benefits to the Region: Ken Betwa River Link Project will also ensure that the Bundelkhand Region is not left behind in terms of development only due to water scarcity.
- The Ken Betwa project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation.
- Ken Betwa River Inter-linking Project would also help in arresting distress migration from this region.
Multiplier Effect on other states: The Ken Betwa River Link project will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects in India.