About the Project

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is the country’s first major river linking project. The total cost of the project has been assessed at ₹44,605 crore at 2020–21 price levels. The Union Cabinet has approved central support of ₹39,317 crore, including a grant of ₹36,290 crore and a loan of ₹3,027 crore. The project will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects in India and showcase our ingenuity and vision to the world.

This project involves transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through construction of the 96.7 m high Daudhan Dam on the Ken River in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, about 40 km from Khajuraho. A 218 km long Ken–Betwa Link Canal emanates near the Daudhan Dam and merges into Barua Sagar near Jhansi. Other components include the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. It will provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water to about 62 lakh people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power. The project is expected to be implemented in 6 years with state-of-the-art technology.The project will benefit the water-starved Bundelkhand region across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, covering districts such as Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen in M.P., and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur in U.P. It is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in this backward region through increased agricultural activities, employment generation, and reduced distress migration. The project includes comprehensive environmental management and safeguards. A detailed landscape management plan is being prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India.On 22 March 2021, a historic agreement was signed between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement this major river interlinking project. It marks the beginning of inter-state cooperation to transfer water from surplus to deficit regions through river linking.