As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi opposes the Ken-Betwa Link Project, read how the Manmohan Singh govt expressed strong hopes in it

Rahul Gandhi is opposing the Centre's Ken Betwa River Link Project.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (Image generated using AI Gemini)

In a political move targeting the Modi government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is opposing the Centre’s ambitious Ken Betwa River Link Project. On Wednesday (19th August), he extended support to the tribals protesting against the project, calling it a “Satyagraha”.

Gandhi shared a video of his meeting with a group of tribals opposing the project. “The problems, demands, struggles, and personal ordeals of the tribal brothers and sisters who are carrying out a satyagraha against the Ken-Betwa project — their own account. For years, these residents of Bundelkhand have been enduring injustice and oppression solely for their rights; they deserve respect and support,” Gandhi wrote in the caption to the video. Gandhi said that he and his party stand with the tribals whose rights, according to him, are being violated.

Amid all his political whataboutery regarding the project, Gandhi remains conveniently tight-lipped about the project’s links with his party’s previous government. He cleverly hides the fact that the project did not originate under the Modi government but under the Congress-led UPA government in 2005. In that year, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to prepare a Detailed Project Report.

A video of the late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is being widely shared on social media. In the video, Singh is seen defending the Ken Betwa River Link Project. “Before coming to this House, I was a witness to the signing of a feasibility report. The first DPR is being prepared. A number of other DPRs are in the pipeline. So, work is going on,” Singh had said.

However, the project lay frozen for years until the Modi government revived it in 2021 by securing a final agreement.

Apparently, Rahul Gandhi believes that his job as the Leader of Opposition is to oppose anything and everything being done by the ruling Modi government. He doesn’t even mind taking a paradoxical stand when it comes to opposing the Modi government and the work being done by it.

What is the Ken Betwa River Link Project?

The Ken-Betwa River Link Project is an important part of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of India’s rivers. On December 8, 2021, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a massive amount of ₹44,605 crore for this project.

Official map of the Ken-Betwa Project, photo courtesy: nwda.gov.in

Geographically, both Ken and Betwa rivers originate in Madhya Pradesh, with Betwa originating from Raisen district and Ken originating from Katni district. Both rivers flow towards the northeast and eventually merge into the Yamuna River at different locations in Uttar Pradesh.

According to in-depth hydrological studies by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and NWDA, even after meeting its own agricultural, drinking water and future local needs, a huge amount of ‘surplus’ water remains in the Ken River basin during the monsoon rains. Every year, this surplus water flows into the Yamuna as a surge and ultimately goes to waste in the sea.

The project intends to build the infrastructure to hold the Ken River water and convey it to the Betwa. This will involve major construction works, including the construction of Daudhan Dam, the 221 km main link canal, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and two powerhouses. Additionally, two main powerhouses will be set up at the Daudhan Dam site for power generation, with a total capacity to generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.

The project will be implemented in two phases: the first phase is aimed at providing immediate drinking water and irrigation water to the most water-stressed border districts like Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh and Banda, and the second phase will ensure efficient distribution of the water transferred from Ken to Betwa. This includes the construction of 3 major projects:

The Ken Betwa River Link Project is estimated to bring agricultural growth in the Bundelkhand region. Once the project is operational, a total area of 6.35 lakh hectares will be irrigated across 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh: Chhatarpur, Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh, Sagar, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen. Along with this, 4.1 million people will get drinking water. In addition to groundwater recharge, stability will be brought to agricultural activities.

Meanwhile, 2.51 lakh hectares of land will be irrigated in 4 districts of Uttar Pradesh: Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur. A population of 2.1 million will receive tap water under ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’. Additionally, drought will be practically eliminated in Banda and Mahoba districts.

The project will alter the picture of Bundelkhand – the most drought-prone, backward, and socio-economically neglected region of Central India spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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