MP Ken Betwa Link Project: Tribal families in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh have been doing ‘Chita Movement’ for the last 9 days. They allege that they are being evicted from their land without compensation. Accusing the administration of not listening, the families have warned that if their demands are not met, they will hang themselves from the bridge.
Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh). There is an uproar in Chhatarpur district regarding the Ken-Betwa river-linking project. The tribal families affected by this project have been carrying out ‘Chita Andolan’ for the last nine days. They allege that they are being removed from their land without giving any compensation. These protesters have gathered under the bridge of Barana river. They say that the local administration is ignoring their complaints. The protesters also claimed that the authorities had earlier also suppressed their movement by giving ‘false assurances’.
Tribal people expressed their pain
- A protestor said, “Many families are being displaced without compensation. No one in the administration is ready to listen to us. That is why we have been protesting under this Barana bridge for the last nine days.” The families have expressed deep distrust in the administration. Referring to past experiences, he said that earlier too he had been misled and persuaded to end the movement.
- The protestor further said, “Last time we had gone to Betwa Canal and protested on the dam. But the administration ended our movement by giving us false assurances. But this time we are not going to back down nor will we be afraid of false promises.”
If our demands are not met, we will hang ourselves together
- Tribal families have given a strict warning to the authorities. They have said that if their demands for proper compensation and rehabilitation are not met, they are ready to take any drastic step.
- The protestor warned, “We want to tell the administration that if our demands are not met this time, we will hang ourselves under this very bridge, but will not back down.”
What is Ken-Betwa Link Project?
- Ken-Betwa Link National Project is a major irrigation project of the country, in which underground pressurized pipe irrigation system will be used.
- This project is being built on the Ken River in Chhatarpur and Panna districts of Madhya Pradesh. Under this, a 77 meter high and 2.13 kilometer long Daudhan Dam will be built on the Ken River in Panna Tiger Reserve. Besides, two tunnels (upper level 1.9 km and lower level 1.1 km) will also be built. 2,853 million cubic meters of water will be stored in the dam.
- Surplus water from Ken River will be transferred to Betwa River through a 221 km long link canal, which will provide irrigation and drinking water facilities to both the states.
7 lakh farmer families benefited
- According to the government release, this project will irrigate 8.11 lakh hectares of land in 2 thousand villages of 10 districts – Panna, Damoh, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Sagar, Raisen, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Datia. About 7 lakh farmer families will benefit from this.
- According to the government, this project will provide drinking water to 44 lakh people of Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh people of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, the project will also generate 103 MW hydroelectric power and 27 MW solar energy, the full benefit of which will be available to Madhya Pradesh.
- This project also includes the work of saving the historical ponds of the Chandela period. Rain water can be stored by repairing 42 ponds of Chandel period in Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari districts of Madhya Pradesh. This will benefit rural areas and the ground water level will also increase.