Context
The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the first priority project under India’s River Interlinking Programme, aimed at transferring water from the Ken basin to the Betwa basin.
It seeks to address water scarcity and irrigation needs in Bundelkhand, covering parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, through the Daudhan Dam and link canal.
Project Components
- Daudhan Dam — 96.7 m high dam constructed on the Ken River
- Located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, about 40 km from Khajuraho
- Ken-Betwa Link Canal — 216.465 km long
- Canal takes off near the Daudhan Dam and merges into Barua Sagar near Jhansi
- Other components: Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project
Ancillary Infrastructure Works
- To be implemented by the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
- Modernization and strengthening of existing canal systems
- Renovation of tanks and weirs; construction of barrages
- Development of pumping and pressurized pipe/micro-irrigation systems
- Stabilization and development of new command areas
Key Facts
- Total project cost: ₹44,605 crore
- Basins involved: Ken (surplus) and Betwa (deficit)
- Target region: Bundelkhand (spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh)
Conclusion
The Ken-Betwa Link Project marks the first river-interlinking scheme under the National Perspective Plan to reach the implementation stage, centred on the 96.7 m Daudhan Dam and the 216.465 km Ken-Betwa Link Canal, at a total cost of ₹44,605 crore, aimed at addressing water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region.
| Important CTC from this article for UPSC National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Interlinking of Rivers Ken-Betwa Link Project |