What happened: KBLP status and core project structure

The Ken–Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is being implemented as India’s river interlinking priority project under the National Perspective Plan for Interlinking of Rivers, with water transfer planned from the Ken River basin to the Betwa River basin. PIB states that the project includes a major dam on the Ken River, a long link canal to carry water across basins, and additional multipurpose components.

Key engineering and project elements named in the PIB backgrounder are:

Overall scheme (water transfer and components):

• Water transfer: Ken basin to Betwa basin through construction of a dam and link canal system. • Daudhan Dam: 96.7 m high dam on the Ken River in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, about 40 km from Khajuraho. • Ken–Betwa Link Canal: 216.465 km long canal taking off near Daudhan Dam and merging into Barua Sagar near Jhansi. • Additional named sub-projects: Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. • State-side works: Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are to implement irrigation and water infrastructure works such as canal modernization and strengthening, renovation of tanks and weirs, construction of barrages, development of pumping and pressurized pipe/micro-irrigation systems, stabilization and development of new command areas, and associated water supply and irrigation projects.

Project cost and implementation timeline