Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project

• Context (TH): The Ken-Betwa project has not received the final environmental nod.

About the Project

• It was the first project under the National Perspective Plan to interlink rivers.
• It will transfer water from the Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) to the Betwa River (Uttar Pradesh).
• It will have Phase I (Daudhan dam) & Phase II ( Lower Orr dam, Bina complex and Kotha barrage).
• It will generate hydroelectricity along with water supply.
• Significant areas of the Panna tiger reserve (Ken River passes through it) of Madhya Pradesh will be impacted by the project.

Recent Issue

• Lower Orr Dam was objected to by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), which said that the state had not taken formal clearance from the Environment Ministry for the project.
• EAC also suggested action against the project proponent- “National Water Development Agency (NWDA), a Jal Shakti Ministry body”.
• The Supreme Court recently put all Ministry orders on hold as part of the NGO Vanshakti case on post-facto environmental clearances.