Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa River Linking National Project on Wednesday, commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. As India’s first river-linking initiative, the project aims to provide irrigation facilities to millions of farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, it will supply drinking water to 44 lakh people in 10 districts of MP and 21 lakh in UP. The project will also generate 100 MW of green energy through hydropower.
Key Highlights
PM Modi will inaugurate several developmental projects in Khajuraho, including the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project. This solar initiative will conserve water, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to the government’s net-zero carbon mission.
Fulfilling Atal Ji’s Vision
The concept of interlinking rivers to address floods and drought was first proposed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Modi government advanced this vision by signing a tripartite agreement in 2021 with the MP and UP governments. The Ken-Betwa project is expected to improve groundwater levels in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, enhancing rural economies and creating employment opportunities.
Key Benefits of the Project
The Ken-Betwa project will transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River via a 77-meter-tall Daudhan Dam and a 221-km-long link canal. This will facilitate irrigation across 8.11 lakh hectares in MP’s districts, including Panna, Damoh, and Chhatarpur, and 59,000 hectares in UP’s Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and Banda districts.
