Ken Betwa River Interlinking Pol - Geo PDF
Ken Betwa River Interlinking Pol - Geo PDF
Ken Betwa River Interlinking Pol - Geo PDF
INTERLINKING PROJECT
In partial fulfilment of the requirement for the paper
Introduction to Political Geography
Paper Code: 12297606
B.A. (Honours) Geography, Semester- VI
Submitted to-
(2022-2023)
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
MIRANDA HOUSE
UNIVERSITY OF DELHI – 110007
Submitted By-
Anshu
Roll. No. 2020/1782
Nisha Yadav
Roll. No. 2020/257
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This was the first time that we were introduced to a new paper named "Political
Geography". I really cherished the journey of this paper as well as completion of
this project report. This has been possible with the immense hard work and
dedication of teachers. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my
professors Ms Kirti Sharma and Dr Shreya Saha for their commendable efforts to
enable students to develop conceptual understanding. I thank them for their
constructive advices throughout this report work, reposing confidence in me and
backing it up with their wisdom, professional advice and thoughtful suggestions.
Their valuable suggestions and extreme expertise in the subject significantly
improved the quality of my final report. I would also like to thank my group
member as well as my friends for their continuous support and motivation which
was very important for the completion of my work. I would like to extend deep
gratitude to my parents for providing unconditional love and support always,
which is very important for one's well-being. At last, I would like to extend
gratitude to all the people who have been directly or indirectly associated with this
project report and made it a fruitful learning experience for me.
ABSTRACT
The Rs 44,605 crore Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project is finally set to be
implemented after being pending for almost 45 years now. The project which aims
to transfer “surplus” water from the Ken basin to the “water deficit areas” of the
upper Betwa Basin, has been surrounded by lot of questions. Though the project
has received environmental clearance, concerns remain about rehabilitation of
displaced villagers, environmental damage, climate impact, wildlife preservation,
especially in the Panna Tiger Reserve, where 10 per cent of the core wildlife area
stands to be submerged, and whether this is an effective irrigation plan for the
region at all which the government maintains it is.
This paper attempts to give an overview of the project and the various concerns of
different stakeholders. A detailed analysis of the geographical condition of the area
and suitability of the project has been made. The views of the key stakeholders
such as the local population, environmentalists, wildlife conservationists, tribal
population etc. have also been presented. The main focus of the paper is on the
political and social aspects of the project.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The inter-basin transfer project will be funded mainly by the Government of India,
international agencies and market borrowings. Decidedly, it will be the most
ambitious scheme in the history of India. Successful completion will rapidly wipe
out many curses of poverty and denial. On the other hand, any serious delay or
failure will lock large resources in non-productive investment and negate the
benefits of growth in many sectors that the country has tasted recently. --
S. K. Jain, Vijay Kumar and N. Panigrahy; Some issues on interlinking of
rivers in India.
The proposal for addressing the twin problems of floods and water scarcity by
interlinking rivers is based on an outdated and dangerous idea of surplus river
basins from which water can be drawn at will. Global experience shows how
damaging such plans of large-scale water transfer are to the environment, economy
and livelihoods of the people. Such plans have also proved a failure to either
prevent floods or provide water on a sustainable basis. It is unfortunate that water
policy in India remains a prisoner to such obsolete ideas. – Jayanta
Bandyopadhyay; Water Science in India: Hydrological Obscurantism.
On the unscientific assumption that water flows in rivers going out to the seas are a
waste, Prabhu (2003), who headed the task force for interlinking of rivers, claimed
that "the (interlinking) project is all about rationalisation of water that is lost to the
sea". Like in other parts of the world, such traditional and simplistic perceptions of
water systems governance are also accepted by the unsuspecting professional
community without much scrutiny. For example, Bery (2008) takes recourse to this
categorisation of rivers as "surplus" and "deficient", though there is hardly any
basis in modern water science that can divide rivers in these groups. –
Jayanta Bandyopadhyay; Water Science in India: Hydrological
Obscurantism.
The opposition to ILR has its basis more in romantic ideology than in hydro
meteorology. Activists opposed to ILR were always keen to make out a case that
ILR would affect the climate, as that would enable them to create a widespread
scare, even internationalize the issue. Predictably, the activists lobby has
conveniently ignored all the cautionary disclaimers in the report, and
environmental glossies are quoting it as if it is the gospel truth. Obviously, they
either do not understand, or do not want to understand, the difference between a
'study' and a 'one-day brain-storming session'. Reputed scientists and academicians
need to appreciate that the controversy that has been raked up over the ILR issue
has much wider dimensions than just science, and one needs to be careful, lest they
become an unwitting partner to something they would have never agreed to, had
they been familiar with the complete canvass of the ILR issue. - C. D. Thatte
and Chetan Pandit; Interlinking of rivers.
The recent Supreme Court decision on two writ petitions of 2002 on the inter-
linking of rivers is a deeply disquieting judgment because it is not only a clear
encroachment into the executive domain, but also shows an inadequate awareness
of the extensive debate on the project. The ruling provides strong backing to a
"project" that many hold to be fundamentally flawed and potentially disastrous.
This article first deals with the question of judicial overreach and then considers
the soundness of the project in terms of the various benefits that are claimed on its
behalf. It concludes with a plea for an urgent reconsideration of the judgment. -
Ramaswamy R Iyer, River Linking Project: A Disquieting Judgment.
1. Himalayan Component
Under the Himalayan component of the NRLP, there are 14 projects in the
pipeline. Storage dams will be constructed on the rivers Ganga and
Brahmaputra, and also their tributaries. The linking of the Ganga and the
Yamuna is also proposed. Apart from controlling flooding in the Ganga –
Brahmaputra river system, it will also benefit the drought-prone areas of
Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.
2. Peninsular Component
This component of the NRLP envisages the linking of the 16 rivers of southern
India.Surplus water from the Mahanadi and the Godavari will be transferred
to the Krishna, Cauvery, Pennar, and the Vaigairivers.
Under this component, there are four sub-component linkages:
• Linking Mahanadi and Godavari river basins to Cauvery, Krishna, and Vaigai
river systems.
• Ken to Betwariver, and Parbati&Kalisindh rivers to Chambal river.
• West-flowing rivers to the south of Tapi to the north of Bombay.
• Linking some west-flowing rivers to east-flowing rivers.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Precipitation in this region is erratic with long stretches of rainless periods. The
region faces the problem of acute groundwater recharge, aggravated by
impermeable rock substratum. Due to its geology and topography and the pattern
of rainfall received, Bundelkhand is prone to both drought and flood. In most parts
of the entire region, an impermeable rocky layer is found at fairly shallow depths.
Hence runoff of both rainwater and soil is high. The problem is aggravated by
erratic rainfall and thin forest cover in many districts. Hence, drought or flood hits
some or other part of Bundelkhand every few years.
The region also contains the Panna Biosphere Reserve, spread over an area of
542.67 km2 in Chhattarpur and Panna districts of Madhya Pradesh. The forests of
Panna National Park along with Ken Gharial Sanctuary and adjoining territorial
divisions form a significant part of the catchment area of the 406 km (252 mi) Ken
River, which runs northeast for about 72 km (45 mi) through the park. Panna
National Park and the surrounding forest area of North and South Panna forest
division is the only large chunk of wildlife habitat remaining in northern Madhya
Pradesh. The National Park is situated at a point where the continuity of
the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests belt, which starts from Cape
Comorin in South India, is broken and beyond this the Upper Gangetic Plains
moist deciduous forests of the great Indo-Gangetic Plain begins. This area is the
northernmost tip of the natural teak forests and the easternmost tip of the natural
'Kardhai' forests.
The region is also renowned for diamond production, which constitute the major
mineral wealth of Panna district. The region also contains deposits of limestone,
silica sand, granite, phyrophillite, rock phosphate and dolomite.
The principal rivers are the Sindh, Betwa, Ken, Bagahin, Tons, Pahuj, Dhasan and
Chambal. The Kali Sindh, rising in Malwa, marks the western frontier of
Bundelkhand. Parallel to this river, but further east, is the course of the Betwa. Still
farther to the east flows the Ken, followed in succession by the Bagahin and Tons.
The Yamuna and the Ken are the only two navigable rivers. Notwithstanding the
large number of streams, the depression of their channels and height of their banks
render them for the most part unsuitable for the purposes of irrigation.
Ken River is a tributary of river Yamuna. It originates near the village Ahirgawan
on the north-west slopes of Barner Range in Katni district and travels a distance of
427 km, before merging with the Yamuna at Chilla village, district Banda in Uttar
Pradesh and has an overall drainage basin of 28,058 km2
Betwa is also a tributary of the Yamuna. It rises in the Vindhya Range (Raisen)
just north of Narmadapuram in Madhya Pradesh and flows northeast
through Madhya Pradesh and Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. It confluences with the
Yamuna at Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh.
THE KEN-BETWA RIVER INTERLINKING
PROJECT
The Ken-Betwa link project, envisaged under the National Perspective Plan (NPP),
will be one of the first river interlinking projects to be implemented in India. This
project aims to provide annual irrigation for around 10 lakh hectares, boost
drinking water supply and generate hydropower of 103 MW in the Bundelkhand
region spread across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The Ken Betwa river project is among the 30 river interlinking projects
conceptualised across the country. In the Union Budget 2022-23 presented on
February 1, 2022, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a huge budget
allocation of Rs 44,605 crore for this ambitious river interlinking project. This
move will give a big push to this upcoming infrastructure project that is expected
to offer irrigation benefits to around 9 lakh hectares of farmland, along with
drinking water to 62 lakh people, 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar
power generation. The Ken Betwa project will benefit the drought prone
Bundelkhand region spread across 13 districts.
The KBLP is in the form of a canal, running through Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, and
the districts of Jhansifor both irrigation and drinking water supply that will be fed
by the new Daudhan Dam on the Ken, to be built within Panna Tiger Reserve. The
dam will also generate 103 MW of hydroelectric power. It had been cleared by the
apex wildlife-regulator, The National Board for Wildlife, in 2016. Ken-Betwa link
is one of the priority links under Peninsular Component of National Perspective
Plan. Ken Betwa Link Project Phase-I (Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh) is one of
the 16 National Projects in India.
Since the project is a large and costly one, Centre needs to aid the state of MP in
completion of the project. Water is a State subject and included in List II of the
Indian Constitution’s division of power. However, in case of inter-state water
dispute, the Union government comes into play. These issues had been a bone of
contention in the past.
However, now this dispute has ended with the coming of the same political party in
power in the Centre as well as the states of MP and UP.The funding pattern of the
project has been in 90:10 funding pattern, i.e. 90% of the total estimated cost will
be borne by the Centre while 10% will be borne by the states.
Inter-state dispute
According to the draft project report, MP was to get 2,650 million cubic metres
(MCM) of water and UP 1,700 MCM. While none of the states has objection to
their share, Uttar Pradesh wanted more water (935 MCM) in pre-monsoon months
for rabi crops and less for the monsoon months.MP, however, was not willing to
release the quantity in months with the least rain.
The deadlock has now been resolved and the Chief ministers of the two states
signed a tripartite agreement with the centre on March 22, 2022. UP agreed to drop
its demand for a higher share. The annual gross yield in the Ken basin up to Daudhan
Dam in in a normal year will be 6,590 million cubic metre (MCM). While Madhya
Pradesh will utilize 2,350 MCM, Uttar Pradesh will be allowed to utilize 1,700
MCM.Release of water from Daudhan Dam reservoir during the non-monsoon period
(November to May) will be 1,834 MCM to Madhya Pradesh and 750 MCM to Uttar
Pradesh.
“Panna has already lost too many things for the sake of the Tiger Reserve,” said
advocate of Panna, who has been opposing the project for years. “Dozens of mines
are shut, thousands of people have been shifted from the jungles. Unemployment,
migration and malnutrition has surged in the district to make Panna the prime
breeding spots for tigers. But, years afterthe toil, the government has decided to dig
up more than 6,000 hectare of core areas of tiger reserve and cut down more than
23 lakh trees. The project may affect the ecosystem of the region,” he added.
Maharani Jiteshwari Judevi of Panna Royal Family expressed concern over how
the project would spell doom not only for the tigers and white-rumped vultures
which are rare in the country, but also to the diamonds, which Panna is known for.
As per her,“Panna will lose the world famous diamond site forever if the ambitious
Ken-Betwa rivers water linking project is implemented. It’s a gift which generates
crores of revenue for the government. However, instead of embracing it, the
government is foolishly destroying and disturbing the ecosystem of formation of
diamonds.”
Many people also reiterated that Panna’s land is rich with diamonds and also
releases carbon dioxide which may turn the water poisonous and it had happened
nearly 350 years ago. Citizens’ one of the primary demand was that an in depth
study must be done by the scientists and geologists on this before moving ahead
with the project.
Seeing no way out, the residents as well as the queen have also written letters to
the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
urging them to conduct a survey on the feasibility of the project as the government
did not do so, taking the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report under
consideration which has opposed the project.
WAY FORWARD
➢ There is a need of a fresh detailed report: The project would need a fresh
detailed report and a landscape management plan.
➢ Local irrigation means should be exhausted first: Several experts are of the
view that local irrigation means should be exhausted before the government
embarks on such a mammoth project.
➢ Need of rainwater harvesting: The two, when combined, propagate the idea
that rainwater should be harvested and organic farming practised.
➢ Creation of lakes: This entails creating lakes and producing local cereals,
crops, and fruit.
➢ Independent hydrological investigation: There should be an “independent”
hydrological investigation of the Ken. Older reports by state agencies had
thrown up different, and hence unreliable, projections.
➢ Restoration of Chandel-period lakes: It will be more economical and faster if
the governments restored Bunderlkhand’s erstwhile Chandel-period lakes and
ponds and if they replicated the successful field-pond schemes on priority.
➢ Due diligence: Expert scrutiny during the project-approval stage are
cornerstones of sound environmental governance.The approach should be
eco-centric and not anthropocentric.
CONCLUSION
Although it will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that
scarcity of water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country.It is
necessary to revisit and address the many concerns that perhaps the feasibility
studies may have missed. Selecting high-value crops that can increase the net value
of crop production benefits at a rate higher than the increase in consumptive water
use. The project may intensify water conflicts between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh. No developmental project should destroy the ecology of remnant fragile
ecosystems and an important tiger habitat in the country. Destructive impact of the
proposed dam on the flow of water into and outside of this sanctuary should be
immediately clear, as also its violation of the requirement under the Act for a
sanctuary.Due diligence and expert scrutiny during the project-approval stage are
cornerstones of sound environmental governance.
REFERENCES:
• BANDYOPADHYAY, JAYANTA. “Water Science in India: Hydrological
Obscurantism.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 47, no. 16, 2012, pp. 45–47. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23214595.
• Jain, S. K., et al. “Some Issues on Interlinking of Rivers in India.” Current Science, vol.
95, no. 6, 2008, pp. 728–35. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24102590.
• Gopal, Brij. “Unique Geological and Geomorphic Features of River Ken with a Bedrock
Channel.” Current Science, vol. 111, no. 12, 2016, pp. 1914–16. JSTOR,
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24911572.