Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project. This interstate project aims to divert surplus water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River, opening new opportunities for prosperity in the Bundelkhand region.
The project was first proposed by the National Water Development Authority (NWDA) in 1995 at an initial cost of ₹1,998.74 crore. Now estimated at ₹44,605 crore, the project will provide drinking water to 4.4 million people in 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 2.1 million people across 10 districts in Uttar Pradesh. It will benefit 2,000 villages, irrigate over 1 million hectares of farmland, and generate 103MW of hydropower and 27MW of solar energy.
During the event, PM Modi criticized the Congress for neglecting infrastructure development and failing to recognize Dr. BR Ambedkar’s contributions to water resource management. His remarks came amid Congress protests over alleged comments by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a Constitution Day discussion in Parliament. While the Congress has accused Shah of disrespecting Ambedkar, the BJP claims the opposition misinterpreted his remarks and ignored Ambedkar’s role in nation-building.
The Ken-Betwa project symbolizes the government’s focus on water management and regional development, marking a step toward sustainable growth in Bundelkhand.
