A proposal for the country’s third River Link Project is expected to take shape in Madhya Pradesh (MP), involving the linking of the Ken and Mandakini rivers.
The project, which is currently in the proposal stage, involves the construction of a 110-kilometer canal between Panna (MP) and Majhgaon in Satna district (MP), designed to transfer water to the Mandakini River. This is set to be the third large-scale river linking initiative in MP, joining the already established Ken-Betwa Link Project and the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project.
Project Scope and Infrastructure
The core goal of this new link is to divert 250 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of water from the Ken River into the Mandakini River, which flows through the Chitrakoot district.
Key infrastructural components include:
A small dam on the Ken River at Patne Abir in the Panna district.
A 110-kilometer canal starting from this dam. The canal will comprise 90 kilometers of open canal and 20 kilometers of closed canal.
The canal will terminate at the catchment area of the Dauri Sagar Dam, located in Majhgaon Tehsil in Satna district. Water will then be flowed from the Dauri Sagar Dam into the Mandakini River.
Additionally, under the existing Betwa Project, both MP and UP are slated to send 125 MCM of water to the Mandakini.
The overall cost of this project is estimated to be around ₹4,000 crores. Funding is expected to follow the typical model for River Linking Projects, with the central government providing 90% of the funds, and the remaining 10% shared by the two states.
Expected Benefits and Current Status
The project offers several potential benefits:
Water Access: Chitrakoot, a major pilgrimage site, will receive clean water.
Irrigation in MP: The project is expected to irrigate 18,000 hectares of agricultural land in Madhya Pradesh.
Irrigation Potential in UP: It has the potential to increase irrigation capacity for 20,000 hectares in Uttar Pradesh.
Hydro Power: A 25 MW hydroelectric power plant is planned to be built at the Dauri Sagar Dam, contributing to clean energy generation.
Rajesh Arora, Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resource Department of Madhya Pradesh, confirmed to Dainik Bhaskar that the proposal has been drafted and work on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently underway. However, several crucial steps are yet to be finalized, including the preparation of the DPR and the formal agreement between the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Environmental Challenges
The selection of this region for a third river link has raised concerns, especially regarding environmental impact and water sharing.
Environmental Risks: The proposed project is situated in the same general area—the Bundelkhand region of MP and UP—as the ongoing Ken-Betwa Link Project. The existing Ken-Betwa project has already been linked to significant environmental loss and damage to the biodiversity/biosphere reserve. Since the DPR for the new link is still pending, the full environmental impact remains unclear.
The complexity of balancing development needs with environmental stewardship in river linking projects is often compared to a surgical procedure: while the operation promises health improvements (irrigation, power), the incision itself (altering natural waterways) carries inherent risks to the existing bodily system (the ecosystem), requiring meticulous planning (DPR) to minimize irreversible damage.
Credits Banner Image: Ramghat at Chitrakoot by Engshubham via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
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