Parliament Question: Status of Implementation of Ken-Betwa River Link Project

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2994 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF KEN-BETWA RIVER LINK PROJECT

2994. Shri SUNIL BOSE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the present status of implementation of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project including the total project cost, funds allocated, released and expenditure incurred thereunder till date;

(b) the details of the cost escalation under the said project since its approval, year- wise;

(c) the total area of forest land, protected areas and wildlife habitat proposed to be diverted under the said project along with the estimated impact on the Panna Tiger Reserve and associated biodiversity;

(d) the total number of villages, families and persons likely to be displaced due to the project including the number of tribal families affected, district-wise;

(e) the details of the compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement measures

provided or proposed for the affected persons under the said project, including the status of settlement of forest rights claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; and

(f) whether the Government has examined any alternative water management measures to achieve the objectives of the project and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) The works of Ken–Betwa Link Project have been commenced. The Project was approved by the Union Cabinet at an estimated cost of ₹44,605 crore, comprising 1Central Assistance of ₹39,317 crore (Grant: ₹36,290 crore and Loan: ₹3,027 crore).

The expenditure incurred up to June 2026 is ₹12,381.94 crore.

(b) No cost escalation has occurred in the Project since its approval in 2022.

(c) A total of 6,017 hectares of forest land is required for the Project, of which 5,578.92 hectares fall within the Panna Tiger Reserve. Construction of the Daudhan Dam and Link Canal has biodiversity implications, and mitigation measures are adopted through the Integrated Landscape Management Plan (ILMP) under the monitoring of the Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC).

(d) & (e) Regarding land acquisition relating to the Daudhan Dam and land transfer to the Panna Tiger Reserve, a total of 22 villages are affected, involving 4,443 displaced families. Of these, 14 villages in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh account for 3,212 displaced families, while 8 villages in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh account for 1,231 displaced families.

Further, land acquisition for the Ken–Betwa Link Canal affects 116 villages, comprising 54 villages in Chhatarpur district, 41 villages in Tikamgarh district, 10 villages in Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh, and 11 villages in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh.

As per the Memorandum of Agreement dated 22.03.2021 between the Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, land acquisition and Rehabilitation & Resettlement of project-affected families within their respective jurisdictions are to be undertaken by the State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 or the respective State policies.

In this regards a Special Rehabilitation and Resettlement Package was approved by the Government of Madhya Pradesh on 13.09.2023.

(f) During the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Ken–Betwa Link Project, various alternative water-management and inter-basin transfer options were examined. Based on technical, hydrological, environmental and socio-economic assessments, the Ken–Betwa Link was identified as the most viable option for achieving equitable water distribution between the drought-prone Bundelkhand regions of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

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