A Huge, Costly Mistake

Context: A realistic cost-benefit analysis on the Ken-Betwa river linking project.

About Ken-Betwa river linking project

• It intends to transfer “surplus” water from Ken basin in M.P. to “deficit” Betwa basin in U.P.
• It is a part of the national river linking project, which proposes to connect 14 Himalayan and 16 peninsular rivers with 30 canals and 3,000 reservoirs in order to irrigate 87 million hectares of land.

Anticipated benefits of Ken-Betwa river linking project

• Enhance irrigation potential: in water-starved Bundelkhand region in U.P. and M.P.
  • Daudhan dam is expected to irrigate 6,00,000 hectares in M.P. and 2,51,000 hectares in U.P. and provide drinking water supply to 41 lakh people in M.P. and 21 lakh in U.P.
• Facilitate groundwater recharge.
• Reduce the occurrence of floods.

Costs and issues associated with the project

• Environmental concerns:
  • Land submergence: 12,500 hectares of land to get submerged, out of which 9,000 ha are categorised as forest land.
  • Affects Critically areas: 40% of the area of Panna Tiger Reserve will be irretrievably damaged.
  • Impact on climate: 7.2 lakh trees to be damaged, affecting rainfall in the already parched region.
• Social concerns: A large number of people affected by displacements and ecosystem losses.
• Cost concerns: Project costs ?37,611 crores (2018 figure).
  • Ken flows 60-70 feet lower than Betwa; thus, at least 30% of 103 MW power generated will be used for pumping water up.
• Unrealistic benefit claims: Non-perennial river impacts, recent slowdown in trickle etc., not taken into consideration.
• Institutional challenges: In getting clearance from Central Empowered Committee of Supreme Court.
• Overlooked alternatives: Potential of small-scale options such as water-conservation and water-harvesting methods.

Conclusion: Given the serious doubts about the benefits of the project and the monumental toll that it would have on the ecosystem, including on carefully preserved wildlife, the Ken-Betwa project seems like a huge, costly mistake.