ken Betwa water link project Explain ?

 why is Recently reason of discussed

The Union Cabinet has approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project at a cost of Rs.44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level . The project will be completed in eight years.

The center would fund Rs.39,317 crore for the project , with Rs.36,290 crore as a grant and Rs.3,027 

crore as loan . 

It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. It envisages transferring water from the Ken river to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna. The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.

Ken - Betwa water linking 

Discuss about the project:- 

The project Involves transferring of water from the ken river to the Betwa through the construction of Daudhan dam and canal linking the two rivers , the Lower Orr project , Kotha Barrage and the Bina complex multipurpose project . 

To  62 lakh people and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power . 

The project will be of immense benefit to the water - Starved  Bundelkhand region , spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh . 

The project is expected to boost socio - economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation .

it would also help in arresting distress migration from this region . 

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the project:- 

According to the statement, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) will be set up to implement the project. In fact, the Centre has set in motion the process of creation of National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing and implementation of the interlinking of river (ILR) projects in the country. The NIRA will have powers to set up SPV for individual link projects.

How was the project conceptualized?

The idea of linking Ken with Betwa got a major push in August 2005, when a tripartite memorandum of understanding for preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) was signed among the Centre and the two states. In 2008, the Centre declared KBLP a National Project. Later, it was included as part of the Prime Minister’s package for development of drought-prone Bundelkhand region.

In April 2009, it was decided that the DPR will be prepared in two phases. In 2018, a comprehensive DPR including phase-I, II and additional area proposed by Madhya Pradesh was also prepared. It was sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and the Central Water Commission in October 2018. On Monday, the memorandum of agreement was signed to implement the project. 

How old is the concept of river linking in India?

In the past, several river linking projects have been taken up. For instance, the Periyar Project, under which transfer of water from Periyar basin to Vaigai basin was envisaged, was commissioned in 1895. Other projects such as Parambikulam  Aliyar, Kurnool Cudappah Canal, Telugu Ganga Project, and Ravi-Beas-Sutlej too were undertaken. 

Ken - Betwa water linking Benefits 

Benefits of Interlinking:- 

1. Enhances water wand food security .  
2. Boost of transportation.                            
3. Proper utilization of water .
4. Boost to agriculture .                                   
5. Disaster mitigation. 

 Highlighted  point : 

• Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna . 
• ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of Up and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of Up.
• Rajghat  , paricha and Mataila dams are over Betwa river. 
• Ken river passes through Panna tiger reserve .