Factual Clarification on Ken-Betwa Link Project Protests
Recent media reports have circulated claims of protests, including “Chita Andolan,” “Fansi Pradarshan,” and “Jal Satyagraha,” in Madhya Pradesh against the Ken-Betwa Link Project. These reports allege that tribal families are being displaced without proper compensation. However, the government asserts that these claims are misleading and inaccurate.
The Indian government alongside the Madhya Pradesh Government and the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority emphasizes that the majority of eligible families have received comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation support. Only a few procedural formalities remain for certain cases, and the commitment remains strong to provide just and timely compensation to all genuinely affected families.
Understanding the Ken-Betwa Link Project
The Ken-Betwa Link Project is India’s first significant river-linking initiative as outlined in the National Perspective Plan. Its primary goal is to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, enhancing irrigation, drinking water supplies, and hydropower generation in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
This ambitious project aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares, supply drinking water to nearly 6.2 million people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower. The total estimated cost stands at ₹44,604.99 crore, with ₹12,445.85 crore already spent as of July 2023, as the project is overseen by the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority.
Compensation and Rehabilitation Efforts
The land acquisition, rehabilitation, and resettlement processes are being conducted according to the RFCTLARR Act of 2013 and a Special Rehabilitation Package approved on September 13, 2023. Compensation for the acquired land is being provided at either the statutory rate or ₹12.50 lakh per hectare, whichever is higher. Families affected by the project are receiving ₹7 lakh for rural plots and ₹6.50 lakh for urban plots. Those who choose not to take a plot are provided a one-time assistance of ₹12.50 lakh.
Additional support is being offered to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families to ensure fair rehabilitation. As of July 2023, awards totaling ₹360.66 crore have been issued to 10,913 affected individuals, with ₹320.45 crore (roughly 88.85%) already disbursed. Of the identified 5,039 affected families, ₹629.87 crore worth of awards has been allocated, with ₹590.74 crore (93.78%) distributed so far.
Community Support Initiatives
Recently, the district administration conducted a special camp at Karaondia under the Jan Vishwas programme to assist displaced families. During this camp, approvals were granted for applications related to animal husbandry and social security schemes while health services were provided to 178 individuals. In just ten days, ₹10.42 crore has been sanctioned to assist 86 affected persons.
These developments suggest that the narratives surrounding the ongoing protests are not entirely accurate. Names of individuals linked to the protests do not appear on lists of project-affected families or within compensation records. The government positions that these activities are largely driven by external influences seeking to promote misleading narratives about the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
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