Ken-Betwa link project: Cong. flags police intimidation, ‘flaws’ in compensation to villagers
Congress alleges irregularities in rehabilitation, gram sabha proceedings, and compensation payments linked to the Ken-Betwa river-link project in Madhya Pradesh.
- The Congress alleged irregularities in rehabilitation, gram sabha proceedings, compensation distribution, and police action in villages affected by the Ken-Betwa river-link project.
- Umang Singhar said documents indicate around ₹8 crore was paid to people with no link to Kharihani village or to people who had left decades ago.
- Umang Singhar alleged that police assaulted villagers, intimidated protestors, and filed cases against more than 250 tribal villagers in Chhatarpur district.
The Ken-Betwa river-link project has come under scrutiny after the Congress alleged irregularities in rehabilitation, gram sabha proceedings, compensation payments, and police action in affected villages of Madhya Pradesh. The allegations matter because large water-infrastructure projects often create displacement, require local consent processes, and depend on clean rehabilitation and compensation systems.
What happened
The Congress has alleged serious irregularities in the rehabilitation process and in gram sabha proceedings in 14 villages affected by the Ken-Betwa river-link project. Opposition leader Umang Singhar has said villagers were assaulted by police in Chhatarpur district and that police intimidated protesters and filed cases against more than 250 tribal villagers.
UPSC can frame the Ken-Betwa river-link project around rehabilitation, informed consent in gram sabhas, protection of tribal rights, and administrative accountability in large infrastructure projects. The issue also links developmental benefits with social and environmental costs, which is a recurring Mains theme.
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