Ken-Betwa interlinking project likely to have disastrous consequences.

Over two decades have passed since the Ken-Betwa interlinking project, which seeks to bring “surplus” water from Ken in Madhya Pradesh (MP) into the parched Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh (UP), was conceived. On March 22 - World Water Day - the two states signed an agreement to implement this project.

This agreement ignores years of expert advice - including from within the government - that the project is ecologically damaging and expensive. Its estimated cost is Rs. 38,000 crore. “No water project was ever completed on time.

BS