Ken, Betwa inch closer

India first river-interlinking project on Ken and Betwa rivers in Central India has received ‘in principle’ approval of the Environment ministry, almost a decade after the project was conceived.

India first river-interlinking project on Ken and Betwa rivers in Central India has received ‘in principle’ approval of the Environment ministry, almost a decade after the project was conceived.

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The approval came after repeated requests of project proponent, Madhya Pradesh government, even though environment minister Jairam Ramesh and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had conceptually opposed inter-linking of rivers.

In the Rs 10,000 crore project water from river Ken in Uttar Pradesh will be diverted into river Betwa in Madhya Pradesh, requiring huge track of forestland from Panna Tiger Reserve. Environment groups have opposed the project saying that it will devastate local ecology, as large part of forest area in and around Panna will be submerged.

While acknowledging the environmental impact, the ministry recently approved the terms of reference, also called in principle approval, for doing preparatory work for constructing a dam on river Ken near village Daudhan and a 231 km long canal to transfer water in Barwa Sagar reservoir. Water from reservoir will be diverted into Betwa river.

The dam site is inside Panna Tiger Reserve, which now has relocated tigers after losing its native species in 2008.

To protect the local flora, the committee has asked the MP government to conduct a floral survey of all plants and a study done regarding aquatic bio-diversity of Ken River.

“A proper plan for conjunctive water use may be prepared identifying the proportions of use of surface and groundwater,” the EAC said in its approval note for the project.

The project has been pending with EAC for close to four years as it refused approval to pre-construction activity because it was in Panna Tiger Reserve. After persistent appeals from the MP government, the committee agreed.