Ken-Betwa River Link Project proposes irrigation cover to MP

If things go according to plan, nearly one lakh hectares of farmland in Madhya Pradesh will be brought under irrigation cover annually under the Ken-Betwa River Link Project.
Four years after preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has come out with its second report for the next phase.
According to the DPR, close to one lakh hectares of farmland in Madhya Pradesh would be brought under irrigation cover.
It also envisages to supply drinking water for 1.65 lakh population in the state.
The main objective of the Phase-II is to make water available to water deficit areas of upper Betwa basin through substitution from the surplus waters of Ken basin, it claims.

According to NWDA study, the Ken river basin, till Greater Gangau dam, was found to be water surplus. It is proposed to transfer 1074 MCM of Ken water through link canal, of which 591 MCM of water will be delivered to Betwa river.

NWDA, functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Water Resources, has suggested construction of a dam across Orr river, a tributary of Betwa, in Khaniadana Tehsil on the border of Shivpuri and Ashok Nagar districts of Madhya Pradesh.
Four barrages in Neemkheda, Barari, Kesari and Kotha have also been suggested.
"The human population in Vidisha, Raisen, Shivpuri, Ashok Nagar and Sagar districts will be benefited due to the assured irrigation supply, domestic and industrial water supply. The total population as per 2011 census in the catchment of Upper Betwa sub-basin are 32.70 lakh," said Masood Husain, Director General of NWDA.

Ken-Betwa link is one of the 16 river linking proposals under Peninsular Component of National Perspective Plan interlinking the two rivers flowing between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
While the phase one of the project would benefit the neighbouring states, phase II is confined to Madhya Pradesh.
The DPR of Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I was completed by in April, 2010. Thereafter, survey, investigations and preparation for DPR Phase-II was taken up in January, 2011.