What is Ken-Betwa River Link project?

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Why Ken-Betwa River Link project in News?

The Centre has approved the implementation of Ken-Betwa river link project, one of the links under peninsular rivers component with an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore.
With central support of Rs 39,317 crore, as informed by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Parliament.

Background of Ken-Betwa River Link project?

Ken-Betwa is one of 30 river interconnection projects planned across the country for better water availability.
So, Ken-Betwa is the first initiative of the National Perspective Plan for river interlinking.
The government of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) to execute the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP).
On March 22, 2022 the two states inked a tripartite deal with the Central government to accomplish this enormous project finally.

Know about Ken & Betwa River

The Betwa and Ken rivers emerge in MP and drain into the Yamuna.
Ken meets Yamuna in the UP district of Banda and Betwa in the UP district of Hamirpur.
The dams at Rajghat and Matatila cross the Betwa River.
The Ken River flows through the Panna Tiger Reserve.

What is Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP)?

As part of the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), excess water will be transported from the Ken river in MP to the Betwa river in UP to feed the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
The region is divided into two states: Lalitpur, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Banda districts in UP and Chhatarpur, Panna, and Tikamgarh, districts in MP.
The project includes the construction of a 77-meter-tall, 2-kilometre-wide Dhaudhan dam and a 230-kilometre canal.

What is the Progress of 30 River Links which are in Pipeline/National River Linking Project (NRLP)?

The National River Linking Project (NRLP), originally called the National Perspective Plan, envisions the transfer of water from excess water basins where seasonal flooding occurs to water-scarce basins where drought/scarcity occurs, using inter-basin water transfer projects.
The National Water Development Agency, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti has identified 16 links under the peninsular rivers component and 14 links under the Himalayan component of the National Perspective Plan for inter-basin transfer.
Pre-feasibility reports of all 30 links have been completed and feasibility reports of 24 links and detailed project reports of eight links have been completed.
Further, under the intra-state link projects, the National Water Development Agency received 49 link proposals from 10 states, out of which pre-feasibility reports of 39 link projects and detailed project reports of six link projects were completed and sent to the states concerned.

FAQs on Ken-Betwa River Link project

Q. What is NRLP?

Ans. The National River Linking Project (NRLP), originally called the National Perspective Plan, envisions the transfer of water from excess water basins where seasonal flooding occurs to water-scarce basins where drought/scarcity occurs, using inter-basin water transfer projects.