Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Displacement complaints over Ken-Betwa project forwarded to MP government
A big project in India wants to connect two rivers, the Ken and the Betwa.
Building it means some families have to move away from their homes.
Many of these families are tribal people who have lived in forests for a long time.
They are upset because they say they were not treated fairly.
They held protests like sitting quietly, lighting small fires, and even refusing food.
A man named Amit Bhatnagar stopped eating to show how strongly he felt.
Police moved him and about 150 other people away from the protest place.
The government said it has sent the families' complaints to the state government to look into.
It also said no one should be forced to leave before their forest rights are checked.
The government says 1,913 families, including 648 tribal families, are expected to have to move in the first phase of the project.
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs told Lok Sabha it forwarded Ken-Betwa project displacement complaints to the Madhya Pradesh government and district administrations.
A 2016 estimate said the project's first phase would displace 1,913 families (8,339 people), including 648 Scheduled Tribe families.
Tribal families in Chhatarpur district have held protests including jal, chita and faansi satyagrahas over displacement and rehabilitation.
Police forcibly removed activist Amit Bhatnagar, who was on an indefinite hunger strike, along with nearly 150 villagers.
The ministry said Forest Rights Act implementation rests with states and urged compliance with Section 4(5), which bars eviction until rights are verified.
- Who
- The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, responding to Lok Sabha questions from Rahul Gandhi and Ajendra Singh Lodhi, and tribal families protesting in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
- What
- Displacement and rehabilitation complaints over the Ken-Betwa river-link project were forwarded to the Madhya Pradesh government and district administrations for action.
- When
- August 6, following a series of protests held in July.
- Where
- Lok Sabha, New Delhi, and Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- Because tribal families and residents raised issues of displacement, rehabilitation and settlements due to the Ken-Betwa river-link project.
Affected tribal families and activists
Union government and project authorities
Displacement and rehabilitation
Affected tribal families and activists
Tribal families say displacement, rehabilitation and settlement issues remain unresolved, prompting prolonged protests.
Union government and project authorities
The ministry says a rehabilitation plan based on a 2016 National Water Development Agency proposal exists and complaints have been forwarded for action.
Evictions and protest handling
Affected tribal families and activists
Protesters allege forced removals, citing police forcibly removing hunger-striking activist Amit Bhatnagar and nearly 150 villagers.
Union government and project authorities
The ministry says Forest Rights Act implementation rests with state governments and it has urged compliance with Section 4(5) barring eviction before rights verification.
Compensation delivery
Affected tribal families and activists
Protesters have raised grievances over compensation and consent in gram sabha meetings and demonstrations.
Union government and project authorities
The ministry says it received no complaint specifically alleging that disbursed compensation had not reached beneficiaries.
- Project
- Ken-Betwa river-link project
- Location
- Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh
- Displaced families (2016 estimate)
- 1,913 families (8,339 people)
- Scheduled Tribe families affected
- 648
- Rehabilitation plan basis
- Proposal by National Water Development Agency (2016)
- Complaints forwarded to
- Madhya Pradesh government and district administrations
- Protest actions
- Jal satyagraha, chita satyagraha, faansi satyagraha, indefinite hunger strike
- Legal reference
- Section 4(5) of the Forest Rights Act