Ken-Betwa River Link Project: What's It All About? Cost, Timeline, Details

On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to visit Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects, including India’s first interlinking of rivers under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) – the Ken-Betwa River Link Project.

During the event, PM Modi also unveiled a commemorative stamp and coin in Vajpayee’s honor and laid the foundation stone for 1,153 Atal Gram Sushasan buildings, which aim to promote good governance at the grassroots level.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project: What's It All About?
The Ken-Betwa River Link Project (KBLP) represents a major step in addressing the water crisis in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region spanning parts of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Uttar Pradesh (UP). As the first river interlinking project under the NPP, the KBLP aims to divert surplus water from the Ken Basin to the water-scarce Betwa Basin through a 221-kilometer canal.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project: Timeline
The project, which will be completed in two phases over eight years, involves constructing a 77-meter-high Daudhan dam on the Ken River, along with powerhouses and tunnels. According to officials, the project will provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares of land, supply drinking water to 62 lakh people, and generate 130 MW of power, including 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project: Cost and Funding
Approved in December 2021, the KBLP comes with an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore (at 2020-21 price levels), with the central government’s support amounting to Rs 39,317 crore. The project will be executed through the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA), a Special Purpose Vehicle.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project:  Phase-I and Phase-II Details
Phase I of the project includes the construction of the Daudhan Dam, which will have a storage capacity of 2,853 million cubic meters (MCM). Two powerhouses, one located at the dam’s base and another at the outlet of a lower-level tunnel, are expected to contribute significantly to the project’s green energy output.
The canal system will irrigate approximately 1.93 lakh hectares en route and provide drinking water to nearby towns. The surplus water diverted through the link will aid water-scarce areas in both MP and UP.

In Phase-II, additional infrastructure such as the Lower Orr dam, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Projects will be developed to further address water shortages in the Betwa Basin. These initiatives are part of MP’s allocated water share from the Rajghat Dam.

Benefits to Bundelkhand Region
The KBLP will benefit districts like Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Panna, Damoh, Vidisha, Sagar, Shivpuri, Datia, and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, and Mahoba, Banda, Jhansi, and Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh. These areas frequently face severe droughts and water scarcity, impacting agricultural productivity and livelihoods.

The project is expected to:
Irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares annually (8.11 lakh hectares in MP and 2.51 lakh hectares in UP).
Provide 194 MCM of drinking water to 62 lakh people (41 lakh in MP and 21 lakh in UP).
Generate green energy (103 MW hydropower and 27 MW solar power).
Create employment opportunities and strengthen the rural economy.

Focus on Green Energy and Sustainability
In addition to the KBLP, PM Modi inaugurated the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh. The solar project aligns with India’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and will help conserve water by reducing evaporation.

Also Read: Ken-Betwa River Link Project: Rs 44,605 Cr Work; Water For 55 Lakh People In UP, MP - All You Need | Republic Business