Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Impact of the Ken-Betwa Link Project
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO: 252

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022

## Impact of the Ken-Betwa Link Project

## 252. SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P.:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  Ken  Betwa  project  on  local population that will be displaced by the project implementation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the number of persons to be displaced and if not, reasons therefore;
- (c) whether  the  displaced  persons  will  be  relocated  and  provided  with  any  form  of compensation;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  details  of  the  measures  taken  to  ensure  that  local  populations  were  provided detailed information about the project before being asked to attend public hearings?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (e) Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e), OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 252 FOR ANSWER ON 21/03/2022 RAISED BY SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P. REGARDING IMPACT OF THE KEN-BETWA LINK PROJECT

The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a river link project with the main aim of transferring surplus water of Ken basin to water deficit Betwa basin. The project comprises two phases namely:

1. Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase - I
2. Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-II

The Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase - I comprises following components:

- i. Construction of an earth fill and concrete dam near Daudhan village on Ken river.
- ii. Link canal for transferring water from Ken river to Betwa basin.

The Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-II envisages construction of following projects:

- i. Lower  Orr  Dam  project  at  Village  Didoni,  Tehsil  Chanderi,  District  Ashok Nagar, Madhya Pradesh
- ii. Kotha  Barrage  major  irrigation  project  at  Village  Kotha,  Tehsil  Kurwai, District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
- iii. Bina  Complex  Multipurpose  Project  (32MW)  at  Village  Chakarpur,  Tehsil Sagar, District Sagar in Madhya Pradesh

The Ministry has delineated a detailed procedure for comprehensive assessment of environmental  and  social  impacts  of  the  project  in  the  Environment  Impact  Assessment Notification,  2006,  as  amended;  which inter-alia provides  for  preparation  of  Environment Impact  Assessment (EIA) Report, Environmental Management  Plan  (EMP),  Disaster Management Plan (DMP) and Public Consultation. The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) comprising  domain  area  experts,  after  detailed  examination  and  deliberation  on  various environmental  and  social  aspects  of  the  project,  recommend  the  project  for  grant  of Environmental  Clearance  by  suggesting  suitable  mitigation  measures  and  Environment Management to minimize the environmental and social impacts associated with the project.

The  following  projects  under  Ken-  Betwa  Link  project  have  been  granted  Environmental Clearance (EC) under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006 after detailed appraisal by the EAC/SEACconstituted by the Ministry:

- i. Ken-Betwa  Link  Project  Phase-I  at  Village Daudhan,  Tehsil  Bijawar,  District Chhatarpurin Madhya Pradesh (EC has been accorded by MoEF&CC on 25.08.2017)
- ii. Bina  Complex  Multipurpose  Project  (32MW)  at  Village  Chakarpur,  Tehsil  Sagar, District  Sagar  in  Madhya  Pradesh  (EC  has  been  accorded  by  MoEF&CC  on 22.02.2017)
- iii. Kotha  Barrage  major  irrigation  project  at  Village  Kotha,  Tehsil  Kurwai,  District Vidisha,  Madhya  Pradesh  (EC  has  been  accorded  by  State  Environmental  Impact Assessment Authority, MP on 21.08.2020).

While deliberating on environmental and social issues associated with the above mentioned projects the EAC has observed the following:

## 1. Ken - Betwa Link Project Phase-I

- i. The total land required for Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I is about 13236 ha out of which the forest land is about 5339 ha.
- ii. Panna Tiger Reservefalls within the10 km radius of the project.
- iii. 10 villages consisting of 1,585families will be relocated.
- iv. Total cost for compensation of properties works out to Rs. 17.64 Crores.
- v. The  Economic  Rehabilitation  and  Resettlement  package  as  per  the  second schedule of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 has been worked out for 2667  households  (which  is  inclusive  of  1913  PAF  head  households  and  754 major  children)  identified  under  the  Social  Economic  Survey  (SES)and  is estimated  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  220.14  Crores.  The  total  cost  of  Resettlement  and Economic Rehabilitation is estimated at about Rs. 1,256.25 Crores including cost of land acquisition.
- vi. Total budget allocation for implementation of Environmental Management Plan is  Rs.  5,064.91  Crores  which  inter  alia  includes  expenditure  related  catchment area treatment, afforestation, reforestation, erosion control by engineering/mechanical measures,  development of agricultural lands,  muck disposal  management,  silt  management,  command  area  management,  habitat improvement in Panna Tiger Reserve, conservation of endangered species, green belt  development,  Fisheries  conservation  and  development,  surface  and  ground water management, public health management, tourism development, Resettlement and Rehabilitation etc.
- vii. Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) published a public notice on 21 st &23 rd November, 2014 in local News Paper Dainik Bhaskar and Hindustan regarding  public  hearing.  A  time  period  of  30  days  was  allowed  for  public  to respond.The  Public  Hearing  was  conducted  on  23 rd &  27 th December,  2014  in Chattarpur &  Panna  Districts respectively as per provisions of the  EIA, Notification, 2006 as amended.

## 2. Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-II-Bina Complex Multipurpose Project

- i. Total land requirement 12,671.18 ha out of which forest area is 1024.44 ha.
- ii. Total submergence area is 10391.88 ha
- iii. No National Park, Sanctuary, Defense Establishments, Archeological Monuments  Notified  Eco-sensitive  areas  or  protected  area  under  Wildlife (Protection) Act exists within the project area or within 10 km distance from it.
- iv. 2957 families in 82 villages, of which 34 villages are coming in District Raisen and 48 villages are coming under Sagar District, will lose homestead and land due to submergence .
- v. Total budget allocation for implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Plan is Rs.1609.28 Crores.
- vi. Total budget allocation for implementation of Environmental Management Plan is  1735.05  Croreswhich inter alia  includes  expenditure  related  to  afforestation and biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, environment management in  labour  camp,  public  health  delivery  system,  restoration  and  landscaping  of construction site, muck management, green belt development, pollution control measures  in  air  and  water,  energy  conservation  measures,  public  awareness program,  Resettlement  and  Rehabilitation,  catchment  area  treatment  plan, disaster management plan, environmental monitoring etc.
- vii. Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) published a public notice on  13.04.2016  in  local  News  Paper  Dainik  Bhaskar  and  and  Nai  Duniya  in Raisen, Vidisha (Patrika and Dainik bhaskar on 13.04.2016) and Sagar (DanikBhaskar  on  26.04.2016  and  Hindustan  Times  on  27.04.2016)  Districts regarding  public  hearing  as  per  provisions  of  the  EIA,  Notification,  2006  as amended. A time period of 30 days was allowed for the public to respond. The Public Hearing was conducted in Raisen District on 18 th May, 2016, Vidhisha District on 20 th May, 2016 and in Sagar District on 27 th May, 2016 respectively as per provisions of the EIA, Notification, 2006 as amended.

## 3. Ken-Betwa Link Project, Phase-II-Kotha Barrage Major Irrigation Project

- i. The total  land  requirement  is  1359  ha  which  is  comprised  of  678  ha  revenue land and 681 ha private land respectively. No diversion of forest land required for project.
- ii. Total submergence area is 1359 ha.
- iii. No National Park, Sanctuary, Defense Establishments, Archeological Monuments  Notified  Eco-sensitive  areas  or  protected  area  under  Wildlife (Protection) Act exists within the project area or within 10 km distance from it.
- iv. There  are  638  project-affected  families  (Titleholders)  whose  land  would  be acquired  but  nofamily  would  be  displaced.  Owing  to  acquisition  of  land,  27 villages would be partially affected.
- v. Total budget allocation for implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) Plan isRs. 141.58 Crores.
6. vi   Total budget allocation for implementation of Environmental Management Plan cost is 169.93 Crores which inter alia includes expenditure related to biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, restoration and landscaping, muck management,  green  belt  development,  pollution  control  measures  in  air  and water,  energy  conservation  measures,  public  health  delivery,    activates  of Corporate Environment Responsibility, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, catchment  area  treatment  plan,  command  area  treatment  plan,  reservoir  rim treatment,   disaster management plan, environmental monitoring etc.
7. vii       Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) published a public notice for conducting Public Hearing on 8 th June, 2018 in Hindi Daily, 'Dainik Bhaskar', 'Nav-Dunia' daily newspaper of Vidisha on 8 th June, 2019. A time period of 30 days was allowed for public to respond. The Public Hearing was conducted on 10 th July, 2019 in District Vidisha.

*****