Ken-Betwa sets the tone

More river linking projects may get going

By formally approving the inter-linking of the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh with the Betwa in Uttar Pradesh, the Forest Advisory Committee of the environment ministry has removed the last major hurdle to the implementation of this Rs 10,000-crore project (first phase) that has been pending for years. This multipurpose project is meant to create additional irrigation potential of 600,000 hectares, provide drinking water to 1.34 million people and produce 60 MW of power. The endorsement of this project, more importantly, sets the tone for similar clearances to many other river-connecting proposals to transfer surplus water from river basins to