+
Sonia Gandhi writes to Prakash Javadekar on Ken-Betwa Project
WATER & WASTE

Sonia Gandhi writes to Prakash Javadekar on Ken-Betwa Project

Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar, asking him not to implement the Ken-Betwa river linking project, citing concerns of a threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress President noted that the Panna Tiger Reserve had been revived with great difficulty and is now considered an example of translocation and successful breeding.

The river-linking project now threatens the tiger reserve, and the state government's estimate is that around 40% of the area of the tiger reserve will be irretrievably damaged, Gandhi stated in her letter, pointing that around 18 lakh trees would be removed from the submergence area.

Last month, the Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat signed a tripartite agreement with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of World Water Day to start the work on India's first major river interlinking project that will connect the Ken and the Betwa Rivers.

The memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed almost 18 years after the project's idea was conceived due to disagreement between the two states over sharing of water.

A 73.8 m high dam proposed on Ken at Daudhan in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. Both of the rivers are rain-fed and flow into the Yamuna. The project, which is estimated to take eight years to complete, has an estimated cost of Rs 35,111.24 crore.

The project was conceptualised in the 1980s, but the water-sharing agreement could not be reached between the two states. The work on the project was originally slated to begin in 2015 but only got a fresh push last year with the government making a revised deal with the two states.

Image Source


Also read: Ken-Betwa interlinking dam to wait longer

Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar, asking him not to implement the Ken-Betwa river linking project, citing concerns of a threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress President noted that the Panna Tiger Reserve had been revived with great difficulty and is now considered an example of translocation and successful breeding. The river-linking project now threatens the tiger reserve, and the state government's estimate is that around 40% of the area of the tiger reserve will be irretrievably damaged, Gandhi stated in her letter, pointing that around 18 lakh trees would be removed from the submergence area. Last month, the Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat signed a tripartite agreement with Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of World Water Day to start the work on India's first major river interlinking project that will connect the Ken and the Betwa Rivers. The memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed almost 18 years after the project's idea was conceived due to disagreement between the two states over sharing of water. A 73.8 m high dam proposed on Ken at Daudhan in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. Both of the rivers are rain-fed and flow into the Yamuna. The project, which is estimated to take eight years to complete, has an estimated cost of Rs 35,111.24 crore. The project was conceptualised in the 1980s, but the water-sharing agreement could not be reached between the two states. The work on the project was originally slated to begin in 2015 but only got a fresh push last year with the government making a revised deal with the two states. Image Source Also read: Ken-Betwa interlinking dam to wait longer

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Real Estate

Peninsula Land launches 19 luxury villas in Pune

Pune’s residential landscape is witnessing a shift as premium homebuyers increasingly seek larger spaces, privacy and independent living options beyond high-rise apartments. Addressing this demand, Peninsula Land Limited, part of the Ashok Piramal Group, has launched AshokVillas, an exclusive collection of 19 premium furnished villas in Gahunje, Pune.The development combines the independence of a standalone home with the convenience and security of a managed residential community. Designed around low-density horizontal living, AshokVillas offers residents private spaces while providing acces..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

MyBranch Expands South India Network with 16 Workspace Centres

MyBranch has expanded its South India presence with a 50,000 sq ft flexible workspace network comprising 16 centres across 14 cities in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.The expansion reflects growing demand for flexible office infrastructure as businesses establish regional teams, satellite offices and operations beyond traditional metropolitan markets. MyBranch’s network spans Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Guntur, Hanamkonda, Hubballi, Hyderabad, Madurai, Mangaluru, Rajahmundry, Salem, Tirupati, Vellore, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, with a large office space in Chennai also und..

Next Story
Building Material

Walplast Launches Moisture-Resistant Gypsum Plaster Solutions

Walplast Products Pvt. Ltd. has expanded its HomeSure GypEx portfolio with the launch of GypEx MoistShield and GypEx Gold, two gypsum plaster solutions designed to address moisture-prone applications and improve plastering efficiency.The new products have been developed in response to the growing demand for faster construction processes, improved material performance and consistent surface quality. The solutions aim to simplify interior plastering while addressing specific application requirements across construction environments.“Through HomeSure GypEx MoistShield and GypEx Gold, we are exp..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code