The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for the interlinking of rivers in India.
Core Objective-To transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the water-deficit Betwa River basin to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, spanning parts of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Financial Outlay- Approved by the Union Cabinet with an estimated total cost of ₹44,605 crore (with central support of ₹39,317 crore).
Implementing Agency- Executed through the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) chaired by an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
Origin & Tributaries-
Ken River- Originates on the northern slopes of the Kaimur Range in Katni district, MP. It is a major tributary of the Yamuna River, joining it in Banda district, UP.
Betwa River- Originates in the Vindhya Range in Raisen district, MP. It is also a tributary of the Yamuna, joining it in Hamirpur district, UP.
Geography of Coverage- The project primarily serves the Bundelkhand region, covering 13 districts-
Madhya Pradesh (9 districts)- Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen.
Uttar Pradesh (4 districts)- Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur.
Key Project Components & Infrastructure-
The project is executed in two distinct phases-
Phase I (Daudhan Dam Complex)-
Daudhan Dam- Construction of a 77-meter high and 2,031-meter long composite dam across the Ken River inside the Panna Tiger Reserve.
Ken-Betwa Link Canal- A 221 km long concrete-lined canal (including a 2-km long tunnel) to carry water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin.
Power Generation- Two powerhouses with a combined capacity of 103 MW (Hydroelectric) and a 27 MW solar power plant.
Phase II (Downstream Infrastructure)-
Construction of four major structures- Lower Orr Dam, Kotha Barrage, Bina Complex Multipurpose Project, and the Rajnagar Barrage
Strategic Benefits
Agricultural Expansion- Provides annual irrigation to over 10.62 lakh hectares of land (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP).
Drinking Water Security- Delivers safe drinking water to a population of over 62 lakh people in the Bundelkhand region.
Energy Generation- Generates 103 MW of hydro power and 27 MW of solar power, aiding regional grid stability.
Drought Resilience- Mitigates chronic drought conditions, curbs distress migration of rural populations, and boosts groundwater recharge in hard-rock aquifers.
Key Environmental & Socio-Economic Concerns
Submergence of Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR)- The Daudhan Dam reservoir will submerge nearly 9,000 hectares of land, including approximately 5,800 hectares of core forest area inside PTR, impacting key tiger habitats and vulture nesting sites.
Clearance Requirements- Required special clearances from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), and the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R)- Involves the displacement of around 10 villages, requiring comprehensive resettlement frameworks.
Hydrological Asymmetry- Environmentalists argue that treating the Ken River as "surplus" fails to account for downstream ecological flows required during dry seasons.
