Why Adivasis are resisting the Ken-Betwa river-linking project

What happened: Adivasi resistance to the Ken–Betwa river-linking project

Adivasi (tribal) communities are opposing the Ken–Betwa river-linking project. The opposition is driven by fears that proposed changes to land and forests will cause displacement and reduce livelihoods in villages that depend on local water sources and forest-based work.

The conflict includes claims and counterclaims on whether adequate land, water, and rehabilitation are being provided to affected families. Compensation adequacy and the conditions attached to project benefits are central dispute points in the community’s demands.

The dispute also raises concerns about project-linked environmental impacts and governance decisions affecting community rights and consent. Land acquisition and resettlement processes are presented as the key pathway through which communities experience risk.

Background and earlier position: What villages depend on

Villages near the Ken–Betwa project area are described as depending on two interconnected resource systems: local water sources for daily living and forest-based work for livelihoods. When land access and forest access are altered, livelihoods and survival patterns are likely to be affected.