• Objective: Transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
  • Ken-Betwa Canal: Envisages a 221 km canal (including a 2-km tunnel) for water diversion.
  • Submergence area: Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.
• It’s the first interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan (1980).
• Targeted completion within 8 years, as per the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• It will irrigate 10.62 lakh ha (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP) and provide drinking water to ~62 lakh people.
• Power Generation: Aims for 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.

Phases:

1. Phase-I: Construction of Daudhan Dam, related tunnels, canal, and powerhouses.
2. Phase-II: Building of Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

Daudhan Dam:

• • Foundation stone laid in December 2024 by PM Narendra Modi.
  • 2,031 m in length and 77 m in height, submerging ~9,000 ha across 10 villages.
• Construction contract awarded to NCC Ltd.

Betwa River: Originates in the Vindhya Range (near Hoshangabad, MP), also flows through Bundelkhand, and meets the Yamuna at Hamirpur (UP).

• Both rivers traverse hilly and plateau regions of Bundelkhand, often facing drought-like conditions.
• Both are highly seasonal; flows depend largely on monsoon rainfall.

• Water Scarcity Mitigation: Aims to alleviate drought-like conditions in Bundelkhand by ensuring year-round irrigation.
• Enhanced Agriculture: 10.62 lakh ha of farmland to benefit, improving crop yields and farm income.
• Drinking Water Supply: Targets ~62 lakh people in MP and UP, improving public health.
• Energy Generation: A total of 130 MW (103 MW hydropower + 27 MW solar), boosting renewable energy capacity in rural areas.
• Bundelkhand Development: Expected to spur socio-economic growth, reduce rural distress and migration, and aid industrial expansion.
• Template for Future Projects: As the first interlinking project under the National Perspective Plan, its success could pave the way for additional river-linking schemes nationwide.

PYQ:

[2020] The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods, and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.