Project to irrigate agriculture fields in Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Panna, Damoh, and Sagar districts in Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Lalitpur, and Jhansi districts in Uttar Pradesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Ken-Betwa river linking project, the first such project conceptualised in the country, at Khajuraho on Wednesday, that marked the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as per official spokesperson of MP government.
This project was a dream project for late Vajpayee, a gift for his home state Madhya Pradesh too, envisaged to transfer surplus water from Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to Betwa in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and, thus, provide irrigation to drought prone Bundelkhand region which falls under Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh both.
Highlighting the then Vajpayee government’s efforts made in respect with the project the PM said, “The Ken-Betwa Link Project is about to become a reality, opening new doors of prosperity and happiness in the Bundelkhand region…It will provide irrigation facilities to 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh, including Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Panna, Damoh, and Sagar and benefit the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh including the districts of Banda, Mahoba, Lalitpur, and Jhansi.”
“Water Security is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century”, said the Prime Minister.
He said countries and regions with sufficient water would make progress and water was essential for prosperous fields and thriving industries.
Underlining the efforts made in his home state Gujarat to bring about desired changes in life of people by providing them water he said, “Blessings of the Narmada River from Madhya Pradesh changed Gujarat’s fate. Hence, it is my responsibility to free the drought-affected areas of Madhya Pradesh from the water crisis.”
He said he had promised people of Bundelkhand, especially the farmers and women, to work sincerely to address their difficulties. “Under this vision, a ₹45,000 crore water-related plan was created for Bundelkhand. The governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are continuously encouraged, leading to the foundation stone laying of the Daudhan Dam under the Ken-Betwa Link Project. This dam will have a canal stretching hundreds of kilometres, providing water for approximately 11 lakh hectares of land.”
PROJECT FEATURES
- Surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to be transferred to Betwa in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh
- Project to irrigate agriculture fields in Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Panna, Damoh, and Sagar districts in Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Lalitpur, and Jhansi districts in Uttar Pradesh
- Dhaudhan dam to be constructed under the project, which is designed as 77-meter in height. Since Ken River flows through Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh the Reserve will get affected too
- Canal at a stretch of 230-kilometer to be constructed to transfer the water from Ken to Betwa, to provide irrigation water for approximately 11 lakh hectare land
- Hydropower of 103 MW to be generated
- More than 60 lakh people to have facility of additional drinking water
