Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• The Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, informed the Parliament that the Ken-Betwa river link project has been approved by the Centre under the peninsular rivers component, with an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 crore and central support of Rs. 39,317 crore.
• This project is one of the 16 links under the peninsular rivers component and 14 links under the Himalayan component of the National Perspective Plan for inter-basin transfer, identified by the National Water Development Agency under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 
• The minister added that pre-feasibility reports of all 30 links have been completed, feasibility reports of 24 links and detailed project reports of eight links have been completed.
• The National Water Development Agency has also received 49 link proposals from 10 states under intra-state link projects, of which pre-feasibility reports of 39 link projects and detailed project reports of six link projects were completed and sent to the concerned states.

Key facts:

• The Ken and Betwa rivers originate in Madhya Pradesh and are tributaries of the Yamuna, with Ken passing through Panna tiger reserve, and Betwa having Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams over it.
• It is important to give a fair hearing to the accused companies, and the Government of India has initiated various measures to promote manufacturing in the pharma sector, considering the affordability of healthcare as a concern even in India.

Project Overview

• The plan involves the construction of the Daudhan dam and a canal to transfer water from the Ken river to the Betwa river. Additionally, the project includes the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and the Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.
• The primary goal is to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares of land annually, provide drinking water to 62 lakh people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
• The project will significantly benefit the water-deficient Bundelkhand region, which spans Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, by increasing agricultural activities, generating employment, and boosting socio-economic growth. It will also help prevent migration due to distress.

Concerns associated

• The project has faced several challenges. The primary issue is that it will partially submerge the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, which could adversely impact the habitat of vultures and jackals.
• After years of protests, the National Board for Wildlife, the apex wildlife regulator, finally approved the project in 2016.

Advantages of river interlinking include:

• Improved water and food security
• Efficient use of water resources
• Increased agricultural productivity
• Reduced vulnerability to natural disasters
• Improved transportation systems.

Way Forward

• Water should be viewed as a strategic resource for development.
• Everyone should be concerned about the environment.
• It would be beneficial to examine best practices from China and neighboring countries.
• Groundwater is the largest, most affordable, environmentally friendly, and decentralized storage option available to India.
• There should be investments in water conservation, more efficient irrigation, and better farming practices.
• Recycling water for internal use, as is done in Israel, could be beneficial.
• A mandatory enforceable river policy is needed to treat rivers as national treasures.
• Rivers such as the Ganga and its tributaries need to be desilted to prevent silt accumulation.
• The successful model of river linking in the south and other areas should be expanded.
• Planting trees on river banks can help restore life to rivers.
• Forest catchments need to be restored, and sand mining must be halted.
• Our water management institutions need to have responsibility, capability, and accountability to restore our rivers.
• Canals should be used judiciously, crops appropriate for a region should be grown, and traditional systems such as tanks should be revived.

Conclusion

The river linking project presents both a challenge and an opportunity to tackle the water-related challenges caused by climate change. The success of the IRL project in addressing water scarcity in the long run depends on the creation of a network of dams and canals across the country. Nonetheless, interlinking should be carried out only after a comprehensive study to ensure that it does not harm the environment or aquatic life.