Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal- Khajuraho  : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to lay the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa river linking project on Wednesday, December 25, at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the beginning of India’s ambitious national river interlinking initiative.

The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore, is designed to benefit millions of people. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, the project will provide drinking water to 44-lakh residents across ten districts in the state  and 21-lakh people in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, approximately 7.18 lakh farmer families in 2,000 villages will gain access to water, which will also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy.

Mohan Yadav highlighted the unique partnership between the central government, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. He noted that the project fulfills the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's river-linking campaign. Beyond providing drinking water, the project aims to enhance agriculture, industrial water supply, and foster overall economic and social growth in the water-scarce Bundelkhand region.

One of the main features of the Ken-Betwa Link Project is the construction of the 77-meter-high Daudhan dam on the Ken River within the Panna Tiger Reserve. The dam will store 2,853 million cubic meters of water, which will be diverted through a 221-km-long link canal to the Betwa River. This water will be used for irrigation and drinking purposes across both states.

In Madhya Pradesh, the project is expected to irrigate 8.11 lakh hectares in areas such as Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, and Tikamgarh, benefiting approximately seven lakh farmers. Uttar Pradesh will see irrigation of 59,000 hectares and stabilization of 1.92 lakh hectares, benefitting districts like Mahoba, Jhansi, and Banda.

Beyond improving agricultural productivity, the project will also help preserve historical heritage ponds, protect forest ecosystems, provide drinking water to wildlife in the Panna Tiger Reserve, and reduce flood risks in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district.

By addressing the long-standing water crisis, the initiative aims to improve local living conditions, curb migration for work, and bring sustainable development to Bundelkhand. The project received official approval after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on March 22, 2021, by the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, along with the Union Jal Shakti Minister, in the presence of PM Modi.