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M.P. CM Directs Officials to Visit Ken-Betwa Project Affected Families

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed administrative officials to visit villages across Panna and Chhatarpur districts to meet families affected by the Ken-Betwa river link project and resolve their grievances.

What Happened

Following a project review meeting in Khajuraho on Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered officials from Panna and Chhatarpur district administrations to visit every household in the impacted villages. The objective is to understand the ground situation directly and address the challenges faced by tribal families on a priority basis. Mr. Yadav also instructed authorities to ensure doorstep delivery of government welfare programmes and to formulate concrete plans for essential infrastructure, such as schools, Anganwadi centres, health clinics, and community halls, in newly relocated settlements.

The directives follow demonstrations staged in April and July by local villagers and tribal communities demanding better compensation and rehabilitation from the ₹44,000 crore Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) and five state projects, including the Majhgaon and Runjh irrigation initiatives. The protests, which included satyagrahas along the Barana river, ceased on July 19 after police cleared the site and hospitalised activist Amit Bhatnagar. On August 19, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met with Mr. Bhatnagar and demonstrators, pledging support for their demands and stating he would visit the area.

Key Highlights

  • Administrative officials have been directed to conduct door-to-door visits in Panna and Chhatarpur to address displaced residents’ difficulties.
  • The Chief Minister instructed teams to deliver welfare benefits directly to eligible households and prepare infrastructure plans for new settlements.
  • Authorities were asked to disburse the approved additional compensation for the Runjh and Majhgaon irrigation projects without delay.
  • Compensation for the Runjh and Majhgaon works was raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹12.5 lakh per family during July, matching the KBLP rate.
  • Protestors stated the KBLP impacts roughly 7,000 families across 21 tribal-dominated villages and affects around 46 lakh trees, partly in the Panna Tiger Reserve.

Why This Matters

Chief Minister Yadav described the KBLP as a project of national importance that serves as a milestone for the development of the Bundelkhand region, highlighting projected improvements in irrigation, drinking water supply, and energy. The initiative transfers excess water from the Ken river basin to the Betwa river basin across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, marking the first of 30 link projects under the National Perspective Plan. However, addressing rehabilitation, forest impact, and local tribal grievances remains critical to executing the multi-crore infrastructure work.

What to Watch Next

Officials in Panna and Chhatarpur will begin visiting affected villages to evaluate household issues and track the distribution of government benefits. The administration is also scheduled to process early compensation payments for families linked to the Runjh and Majhgaon projects. Additionally, political attention remains focused on the area following Rahul Gandhi’s stated intention to visit the affected communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a ₹44,000 crore project designed to transfer surplus water from the Ken river basin to the water-deficit Betwa river basin, covering parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It was kickstarted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2024, as the first of 30 river-linking works under the National Perspective Plan.

What directions did Chief Minister Mohan Yadav issue?

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav instructed officials to visit every affected household in Panna and Chhatarpur, listen to tribal families sensitively, resolve grievances quickly, provide doorstep delivery of welfare schemes, and establish essential facilities like schools and health centres in relocation areas.

How was the compensation adjusted for local irrigation schemes?

During protests in July, compensation for families affected by the Runjh and Majhgaon irrigation projects was increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹12.5 lakh each, bringing it in line with the package provided under the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.