India’s first linking project is once again in the news because families who are being displace by and to other irrigation projects in Panna District. Runjh and Majhgaon are protesting. The Kane-Betwa Link project is facing a political controversy due to alleged issue with how compensation and rehabilitation are being handles. While central and state government say it will be a big change for the drought affected Bundelkhand region, the villagers who will be displaced are asking for better compensation and proper rehabilitation before they are moved.
Bundelkhand has had with poor rainfall drought and lack of water and not enough irrigation. People depend lot on the monsoon for farming , which leads to repeated crop failures and people moving form work seasonly. Even though there a protest many farmers and people Bundelkhand support the project they believe that with better irrigation more water for drinking and better farming, the regions economic can improve and fewer people will need to work. They also think that local water conservation majors along are not inner to solve the long term water shortage.
However, environmentalist are worried about the effect of building a big dam inside the Panna Tiger Reserve the new protest have brought the larger discussion about balancing development with the environment.
Ken- Betwa Link Project
It is the India’s first major project to move way from one river to another. It plans to transfer water from Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa river, which is a water scare ares through a dam, a 222 km canal and other structures. The cost estimated to be around 44600 crore rupees. The project is expected to irrigate over 10 lakh hectare and provide water for drinking to atleast 13 districts in Bundelkhand, in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh along with generating hydropower. It is being managed by the National Water Development Agency with support from the government of Madhya Pradesh and UP.
The project has two phases first includes the building the Taudhan Dham on the Kane river, a 221 km long canal tunnel, power station and other required facilities. The second phases involve state lower Orr Dam, Bina complex multipurpose project, and Kotha Barrage to eɛpend the benefit of irrigation.
Reason for taking 4 decade to start the project
The idea was proposed in the early 90-80s century but it was delayed due to long standing conflict over water sharing between MP and UP, environmentalist and wildlife clearance acɔiring land, planning rehabilitation, and legal review. The project finally move forward after an arrangement between the two states in 2021, followed by the Union Cabinet approval.
Cause of Protesting
Current protest are led by Amit Bhatnagar, a farmer AAP leader and socialist activity along with several affected villagers. Bhatnagar, who is called Sonam Wangchuk of Bundelkhand, was taken by police to hospital on 14th day of his hunger strike on July 19. During this time, other protester were taken back to their village, mainly in Panna District. Bhatnagar was protesting in Kupi village near the Varana river in Chhatrapur district, along with their families (mostly tribal people from adjacent Panna District) affected by the Kane Betwa river link Project and the state Runjh and Majhgaon irrigation projects.
On July 2023, he reportedly ended his fast, though his claims he postponed his agitation after local authorities promised to look into his and affected families claims on the ground. The protesters say there are not against development but our demanding that rehabilitation be done legally and transparently before displacement. Their main allegation includes:
- Irregularities, in compensation they claims some affected families receive inaɔeduate compensation were not included at all.
- Faculty rehabilitation survey- protesters say many eligible families away left out during the initial survey.
- Sustainable gram Sabha processed Bhatnagar claimed that records of meeting notes in several villages are same, raising doubts about whether proper consultation were held
- Payment to ineligible people Bhatnagar claims that compensation was many crore was given to people who were not residents of the affected villages are were otherwise not ellegible
- Incomplete rehabilitation before construction- Protesters argued that constructions on the Daudhan Dam has started despite the rehabilitation not fully completed , which villages environmentalist condition.
Both Bhatnagar and Singhar have accused a major scam involving around 400 crore rupees in compensation and related areas and related areas.
Bhatnagar claims police and authorities move him away from the protests from the protest site to hospital in Bijarwar to prevent him from releasing document that would eɛpose widespread corruption.
Government response to Protest
The Madhya Pradesh government has denied corruption allegation, revenue minster Karan Singh Verma rehabilitation and compensation packages have been provided to almost all eligible families. he acknowledges that some complains had been received but said new survey had been done, and more families were included. According to the minister, in Panna district, under the Ken- Betwa project, 1321 families from 7 villagers were displace and 644 landholders belonging to 1699 families famers who were affected by land acquisition.
These were the government response toward the protesting people against Ken- Betwa Project. It is human right of the villagers to protect their land compensation accordingly with the market price.
