Ken-Betwa linking project gets green nod

The Centre’s ambitious Ken-Betwa river linking project has received the final environmental clearance, subject to general and specific conditions. This is part of a much-bigger plan to link some of India’s major rivers that will help fight drought spells and overcome irrigation challenges but also raises some ecological concerns.

An expert panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) that appraises river valley and hydroelectric projects had recommended the proposal for environmental clearance last December. Following the panel’s nod, the ministry issued the final environmental clearance on August 25. DNA has reviewed a copy of the clearance.

Pegged at an estimated cost of Rs 18,000 crore, the project proposes to transfer water from the Ken river basin to the Betwa basin in Uttar Pradesh. Both rivers are tributaries of the Yamuna.

As part of the project, a 77-metre-high and 2,031-metre-long composite dam will be built on the Ken in Daudhan village to provide irrigation for 6.35 lakh hectares of area.

It will also provide drinking water and water for power generation. To take the Ken’s water into the Betwa basin, a 221-km-long canal will be built.

The dam’s reservoir will submerge a total of 100 sqkm of forest, including 50 sqkm in …read more