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Context: The Union Cabinet approved the funding and implementation of Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers project with a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore.

• The project will be completed in eight years.

What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

• It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
• It envisages transferring water from the Ken river to the Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
• The Ken-Betwa Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
• A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) will be set up to implement the project.

National Interlinking of Rivers Authority

• Centre has set in motion the process of creation of National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing and implementation of the interlinking of river (ILR) projects in the country.
• The NIRA will have powers to set up SPV for individual link projects.

When was the Ken-Betwa project agreement signed?

• On March 22, 2021, a memorandum of agreement was signed among the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to implement the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP).

Which regions will benefit from it?

• The project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Will the project affect the Panna Tiger Reserve?

• The reservoir of Daudhan dam will involve “a submergence of 9000 ha area, out of which 5803 ha comes under Panna Tiger Reserve.
• The later includes 4141 ha of forest area which is about 7.6% of the total Panna Tiger Reserve area”.
• In order to mitigate adverse impacts on Panna Tiger Reserve, Landscape Management Plan to decide mitigation strategy with respect to Ken-Betwa Link entrusted to Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and is in its final stage.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ken-betwa-river-linking-project-explained-7664323/

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