Lok Sabha Question No. 1 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: Environmental Impact Assessment of Ken-Betwa River Link Project
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Anurag Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 1

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## Environmental Impact Assessment of Ken-Betwa River Link Project

## *1. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

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

- (a) the present status of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report under the KenBetwa  River  Link  Project,  including  its  observations  regarding  the  impact  on  local biodiversity, forest cover and water resources;
- (b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to mitigate, prevent or offset any potential ecological damage arising therefrom;
- (c) the details  of  the  corrective  and  compensatory  measures  undertaken  to  address environmental degradation caused by mining activities in the Jhansi and Lalitpur districts, along with particulars of afforestation drives, soil and water conservation programmes, rehabilitation of affected sites; and
- (d) the details of the monitoring mechanisms established to ensure strict compliance with environmental  norms  along  with  the  expected  time-frame  for  achieving  effective ecological restoration in the said districts?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1  FOR  ANSWER  ON  01.12.2025  RAISED  BY  SHRI ANURAG SHARMA REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF KEN-BETWA RIVER LINK PROJECT

(a) and (b) The Ken-Betwa Link Project, declared a National Project, is the first inter-basin river-linking  initiative  under  India's  National  Perspective  Plan,  which  has  entered  in  the implementation phase. It aims to transfer surplus water of Ken basin to water deficit Betwa basin. Based upon the comprehensive appraisal of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)/State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), the Environmental Clearances (ECs) were accorded by the Ministry, under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, to Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-I at Village Daudhan, Tehsil Bijawar, District Chhatarpur in  Madhya  Pradesh on 25.08.2017 and  Bina  Complex Multipurpose Project (32MW) at Village Chakarpur, Tehsil Sagar, District Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on 22.02.2017. Further, EC was accorded by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority  (SEIAA),  Madhya  Pradesh  to  Kotha  Barrage  major  irrigation  project  at  Village Kotha, Tehsil Kurwai, District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh on 21.08.2020.

The project benefits include provision of annual irrigation facility to 10.62 lakh ha area, 194 MCM drinking water supply to a population of 62 Lakh and 103 MW Hydropower and 27 MW Solar power generation, benefitting 10 districts in Madhya Pradesh and 4 districts in Uttar Pradesh.

The  EIA reports, inter alia, deals with the impacts of the project on local biodiversity, forest cover and water resources include, impacts on biodiversity within and around the Panna Tiger  Reserve,  impact  on  riverine  and  riparian  habitats,  wildlife  corridors,  submergence  of forest and non-forest land, hydrological changes, downstream ecological flow requirements, muck generation and excavation of construction material, alterations in physical, abiotic and biotic parameters both in upstream and downstream direction of the proposed barrage etc.

Various mitigation measures have been recommended while granting Environmental Clearance (EC) as well as approval under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980  and  Wildlife  Clearance  to  the  projects.  The  outlay  for  implementation  of  mitigation measures  under  the  Environmental  Management  Plan  (EMP)  for  Ken-Betwa  Link  Project Phase-I, Ken-Betwa Link Project Phase-II (Bina Complex Multipurpose Project) and KenBetwa Link Project Phase-II (Kotha Barrage Major Irrigation Project) has been kept as Rs. 5,073 Crores, Rs. 1735.05 Crores and Rs. 164.12 Crores respectively. The components of EMP, inter-alia, include expenditure related to Catchment area treatment plan (CAT) plan, reservoir rim treatment plan, afforestation, erosion control by engineering/mechanical measures, muck and  silt  management,  command  area  management,  habitat  improvement  in  Panna  Tiger Reserve,  conservation  of  endangered  species,  monitoring  of  microclimatic  conditions  for habitat  improvement,  Fisheries  conservation  and  development,  surface  and  ground  water management, periodic soil health analysis, green belt development, pollution control measures in air and water, energy conservation measures and environmental monitoring etc.

(c)  and  (d) All  Mining  projects  require  prior  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  under  the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended. The powers to grant EC  for  minor  mineral  projects  including  River-Bed  Sand/Morrum  Mining  and  KhandaBoulder/Gitti-Ballast  Mining  projects  in  Jhansi  and  Lalitpur  districts,  are  vested  with  State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).

Stringent  environmental  safeguard  conditions  recommended  by  the  domain  area experts to ensure environmental protection, ecological restoration and rehabilitation of affected sites  are  stipulated  for  mining  projects  including  mining  projects  in  Jhansi  and  Lalitpur districts. These conditions, inter-alia, include development of greenbelt in the mining leases and its maintenance, construction and maintenance of haul roads, use of water sprinklers for dust  suppression,  condition  for  protection  of  surface  and  groundwater  resources,  regulated blasting  whenever  necessary,  adoption  of  controlled-blasting  techniques,  installation  of acoustic  enclosures for  equipment,  etc.  The  EC  also  stipulates  conditions  for  protection  of scheduled species and ecological safeguards, scientific handling of overburden (OB) and waste rock, including their placement in designated and stabilized dumps with proper terracing, slope protection, grassing and vegetative cover etc. The project proponents are also required to carry out plantation under the campaign "Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam" in the stipulated green belt. Projects proponents are further  required to obtain Forest Clearance if forest  land is  involved  in any mining project. Compensatory afforestation has to be done by the project proponent as a part of Forest Clearance.

Six-monthly compliance reports with respect to Environmental Clearance conditions has to be mandatorily submitted by the project proponent. Further, mining leases are subject to Consent to  Operate  (CTO)  issued  by  the  State  Pollution  Control  Board  (SPCB)  under  the  Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,  1981.  The  compliance  of  environmental  safeguard  conditions  stipulated  in  the  EC, conditions of the CTO issued by SPCB are monitored by the concerned Regional Office of the Ministry  and  SPCB  through  regular  site  inspection  and  surprise  visit.  In  case  of  noncompliance, appropriate action is taken including show-cause notice, revocation of EC as per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 against the project authorities.

The mining projects are required to implement Progressive and Final Mine Closure Plans approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines/ State Directorate of Mineral and Geology, as per Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988 and Mineral Concession Rules under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (as amended), which prescribe measures for ecological restoration by undertaking activities like backfilling, land reclamation, re-grassing and restoration of mined-out area.

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