Archive · 27 Jun 2025
Ken-Betwa River Link Project: Benefits and Challenges
Imagine a plan to move water from one river to another, like sharing water between friends.
This project, the Ken-Betwa River Link, does just that in India, moving water to help farmers and people in a dry area.
It includes building a big dam, tunnels, and canals.
The goal is to provide water for farming, drinking, and even create electricity from the water.
While it helps solve water problems, it also means some trees in a national park might have to be cut down.
The Ken-Betwa River Link Project aims to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
The project is designed to address water scarcity in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of India.
The project involves constructing the Daudhan Dam, tunnels, and canals, including a 2-kilometer tunnel.
It's expected to provide irrigation, drinking water, and generate hydropower and solar energy.
The project has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding deforestation in Panna National Park.
- Who
- The project is initiated by the Indian government to address water scarcity.
- What
- The Ken-Betwa River Link Project aims to transfer water from the Ken to the Betwa rivers.
- When
- The project has been under development since 2005 and is part of India's National Perspective Plan.
- Where
- The project is located in the Bundelkhand region, affecting districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- To address water scarcity, provide irrigation, drinking water, and generate power in drought-prone regions.
Environmental Concerns
Economic and Social Benefits
Environmental Impact vs. Development
Environmental Concerns
The project necessitates extensive deforestation in the Panna National Park and Tiger Reserve.
Economic and Social Benefits
The project is essential to ensure that scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country.
- Project Goal
- Interlinking Ken and Betwa rivers
- Irrigation Benefit
- 10.62 lakh hectares
- Drinking Water
- 62 lakh people
- Hydropower
- 103 MW
- Solar Power
- 27 MW
- Dam Length
- 2,031 meters
- Land Affected
- 9,000 hectares