In an astounding move, NHPC published a Tender Notice for ‘Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project (Link 3)’ on the 20th May 2026 [1] and immediately cancelled it on the 23rd May 2026. No details of this project were online before this sudden announcement and its retraction, nor does the project have legally required environmental, forest, tribal ministry clearances or Gram Sabha resolutions in support.
Continue reading “Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel: Safety of the Indian Himalayan Region at Stake”Category: Interlinking of RIvers
Yamuna Manthan May 2026: Ken-Betwa Linking Needs Urgent Reassessment
(Featue Image: Protesters express anger by staging symbolic hangings during the protest during April 5 to 16, 2026. Photo: Amit Bhatnagar/DTE)
Fresh protests over the past month by tribal communities affected by the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project have again raised serious concerns about its environmental impact and social costs. The project is going ahead despite questions over its hydrological assessment and environmental, forest and wildlife clearances. Moreover, the govt has not even explored the available cost effective and better alternatives.
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केन-बेतवा नदी जोड़ परियोजना का विरोध कर रहे पन्ना के आदिवासी
(फीचर इमेज: केन-बेतवा नदी जोड़ परियोजना के विरोध में 16 दिसंबर 2024 को पन्ना कलेक्टर कार्यालय के पास धरने पर बैठे प्रभावित ग्रामीण। सोर्स: मुकेश गौंड)
सतीश भारतीय (sat2018ish@gmail.com) द्वारा लिखा गेस्ट ब्लॉग
मध्यप्रदेश के पन्ना जिले में लोग केन-बेतवा नदी जोड़ परियोजना का विरोध कर रहे हैं। यह विरोध कई व्यापक प्रदर्शनों का रूप ले चुका है। ऐसे ही परियोजना के विरोध में 16 दिसम्बर 2024 को एक बड़ा प्रदर्शन किया गया। इस विरोध प्रदर्शन में लोगों ने परियोजना की विस्थापन प्रक्रिया और प्रशासन के अलोकतांत्रिक रैवये के खिलाफ सवाल उठाये।
Continue reading “केन-बेतवा नदी जोड़ परियोजना का विरोध कर रहे पन्ना के आदिवासी”
Yamuna Manthan 050924: Changing parameters of Ken-Betwa Project needs fresh appraisal?
(Feature Image: Dry Ken river beneath bridge at Pandvan in Amanganj, Panna in April 2018. Image taken during Ken river walk by SANDRP & Veditum India)
The controversial Ken-Betwa Interlinking project is undergoing several changes being proposed by central and state governments of UP and MP. Firstly, there are plans to build two new barrages at Pailani and Banda and renovate Beriyapur and Pariksha weirs and Barua Sagar dam apart from renovation of 15 dams and large ponds in Mahoba district. Then, the construction of a 21 km link channel will require 271 ha of forest land.
Similarly, the CM of MP has requested to increase irrigation capacity of Patne-Biarma Irrigation Scheme from 90,100 ha to 2,50,000 ha under the interlinking plan. On the other hand, the CM of UP has suggested inclusion of Hamirpur district in the plan.
Continue reading “Yamuna Manthan 050924: Changing parameters of Ken-Betwa Project needs fresh appraisal?”
Poster child for Interlinking follies: Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari project
Pictures above have been taken five days apart. One would think River Interlinking entails transferring water from the bountiful right to thirsty left. In case of Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari Link, it means the opposite: transferring water from dry Mokhada to the verdant Devnadi in Sinnar. Like many ILR projects, it highlights the farce that is “surplus” and “deficit” basins. More rainfall does not secure water access, nor does moderate rainfall negate it.
Continue reading “Poster child for Interlinking follies: Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari project”
MoEF’s FAC declines clearance to Bunder mine in Ken Catchment
Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting held on March 31, 2022, in an important decision[i], has declined to clear a “destructive” diamond mining proposal in the catchment of Ken Betwa Project in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The High Court has already stayed the mining proposal. The FAC has asked for more information rather than rejecting the proposal.
Continue reading “MoEF’s FAC declines clearance to Bunder mine in Ken Catchment”
Ken Betwa Project shows why River Linking is non starter
A series of moves by the current Central Government, along with some of the state governments since March 2021 have tried to orchestra a push for the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) in a manner somewhat similar to what happened in 2002 under the previous BJP government led by Shri AB Vajpayee. The 2002 effort did not achieve much on ground and the initiatives two decade later are unlikely to achieve any progress either.
Continue reading “Ken Betwa Project shows why River Linking is non starter”
Ken Betwa project will harm & not help Bundelkhand
People of Bundelkhand certainly need better water access and management as claimed in the Media Briefing Note on the occasion of Union Cabinet clearing the project on Dec 8, 2021. But the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is not for Bundelkhand, of Bundelkhand or by Bundelkhand. The project will bring unbelievably huge adverse impacts for the Bundelkhand and promises benefits that were promised decades ago, but never realised. In fact much better, cheaper, less impactful and faster options for Bundelkhand exist, if only the government had the will.
Continue reading “Ken Betwa project will harm & not help Bundelkhand”
Fatal setback for Ken Betwa Link Project from CEC
The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in a most path breaking, remarkable report to the Supreme Court on the Ken Betwa Link Project Phase I (KBLP-I), on Aug 30, 2019 has raised fundamental questions not only on the appropriateness of the Wildlife Clearance given to the project, but also the viability, optimality and desirability of the project. This a massive, fatal setback for the KBLP-I. We hope the government wakes up to the reality and shelves the project and immediately goes for more viable, quicker, cost effective and less damaging options for Bundelkhand. We also hope the CEC continues to look at the other projects and applications that come their way with the same vigour and forthrightness that they have shown in this report. Continue reading “Fatal setback for Ken Betwa Link Project from CEC”
From thirsty Tribal areas to Industries: Travesty of Intrabasin Transfers in Maharashtra
Above: Tribal women fetch water from a well which was supplied by the government tankers at a village in Mokhada, April 2019. This is the “Surplus” region which is supposed to transfer water to Sinnar as per the Damanganga-Upper Vaitarna-Godavari Link. Photo: PTI
Maharashtra Government is aggressively pushing Intrastate River water transfers from West flowing rivers into Godavari and Tapi Basins. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has tried to package these transfers as “Diverting water from Konkan to Drought Affected Marathwada”. This can be an eye candy for majority population, if we do not look at the details of these destructive projects.
One of the first projects coming for Stage I Environmental Clearance is about transferring water from Damanganga and Upper Vaiatarna Basins into Kadve Dam in Godavari Basin and from there to Dev Nadi in Sinnar, to provide water to Sinnar. The project, costing Rs 2700 Crores, will displace more than 4000 people, mainly tribals, submerge 8 villages and 1230 hectares of land, 179 hectares of Forest and possibly parts of Tansa Sanctuary. Continue reading “From thirsty Tribal areas to Industries: Travesty of Intrabasin Transfers in Maharashtra”
SANDRP 