Cabinet approves the Rs 44,605 crore Ken-Betwa interlinking of rivers project

New Delhi, December 9, 2021

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers project at a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore at 2020-21 price levels.

The central support for the project will be Rs 39,317 crore, comprising a grant of Rs 36,290 crore and a loan of Rs3,027 crore. The project will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects in India, an official release said.

The project involves the transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the construction of the Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. The project will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water supply to a population of about 62 lakhs and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power. The project is proposed to be implemented in eight years with state-of-the-art technology.

The project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This project will also benefit the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.

The project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation. It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region. It also comprehensively provides for environment management and safeguards. For this purpose, a comprehensive landscape management plan is under finalization by the Wildlife Institute of India.

On March 22, 2021, an agreement was signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the first major centrally-driven river interlinking project in the country.

NNN