Ken-Betwa River Link Project to be a boon for Bundelkhand: PM Modi

  Lucknow, 22 March (HS) :      To fulfil the dream envisioned by the former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee of interlinking the rivers of the country, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present on the occasion through video conferencing.

On the occasion of the World Water Day, during the virtual launch of ‘catch the rain campaign’, the historic pact for the Ken-Betwa Link Project starts the inception of the inter-state cooperation to implement former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision to carry water from surplus to drought-prone areas to water-scarce areas through interlinking rivers.

PM Modi on the occasion said that the Ken-Betwa River Link Project will be a boon for Bundelkhand. He said that today’s agreement will be in the interests of millions of families of UP and MP. The PM asserted that rapid development is not possible without water security and effective water management.

The first project of the National Perspective Plan to link rivers, will provide relief to the residents of the parched regions and will be of immense benefit to the water deficit areas of Bundelkhand, especially to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, Hamirpur and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh, according to a PMO statement.

“Bundelkhand is a land of bravehearts and its people will not be allowed to remain thirsty. Ken-Betwa river linking will help resolve the water scarcity and will bring prosperity in this region”, said CM Adityanath.

It will provide annual irrigation of 2.51 lakh hectares, 1700 million cubic meters (mcm) of water to Uttar Pradesh and drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people and also generate 103 MW of hydropower.

The ambitious project will also benefit the districts of Jhansi, Mahoba, Lalitpur and Hamirpur of Uttar Pradesh by providing 67 mcm of potable water to over 21 lakh people.

Ending the 15-year old long wait, the project involving the transfer of surplus water from Ken river in Panna district in Madhya Pradesh to Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh will be done through the construction of a Dhaudan Dam and a 221 km-long canal connecting the rivers to support the water-starved districts.

“It also will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country”, explained CM Yogi, while mentioning about the constant efforts of the Government to provide basic amenities to common people.

Ken-Betwa Link Project : Key Highlights

*To provide irrigation and drinking water facilities to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the Bundelkhand area. An agreement was made between the Central Government and Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in August, 2005, regarding the water distribution of the Ken-Betwa River Basin. However,  no action was taken by subsequent governments.

*Through this project, irrigation systems will be made available to a total area of 2.51 lakh hectare in the districts of Uttar Pradesh – Mahoba, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Jhansi and Banda.

*In order to ensure the filling of the Maudaha Dam in Hamirpur, irrigation system will be provided in the 26,900 hectare area of Hamirpur along with providing drinking water facilities in Tehsil Rath.

*About 37,564 hectares in district Mahoba, 3,533 hectares in Lalitpur, about 17,488 hectares in Jhansi, 26,900 hectares in Hamirpur and about 1,92,479 hectares in Banda will get the benefit of irrigation facility.

*Under the project, two barrages will be constructed to store approximately 188 million cubic meters (mcm) of water in the downstream of Bariyarpur Dam

*Construction, renovation and restoration works of Bariarpur pickup weir, Parichha weir, Barua Sagar dam, etc. will be the carried out under this project.

*The work of water tanks and their water system is proposed in Mahoba, through which the water can be used during non-monsoon period by collecting water during the monsoon. Districts Banda and Jhansi will be benefited with the Pressurised Pipe System and Micro Irrigation system.