Context:
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa river-linking project in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
About Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP):
- Aim – To transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
- Bundelkhand – A drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Implementing Agency: Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) set up by National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA)
- 2 phases –
- Phase I: Daudhan Dam complex and its subsidiary units such as Low Level Tunnel, High Level Tunnel, Ken-Betwa Link Canal and power houses.
- Phase II: Lower Orr dam, Bina Complex project, and Kotha Barrage.
- Benefits –
- Provide annual irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares (8.11 lakh ha in MP and 2.51 lakh ha in UP) of land in Bundelkhand region.
- Supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people.
- Generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
About Ken and Betwa Rivers:
- Origin of Ken – Barner Range (Bundelkhand region)
- Origin of Betwa – Vindhya Range
- Both the rivers are the tributaries of Yamuna.
- Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
- Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.
Panna Tiger Reserve:
- A National Park and a Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
- UNESCO designated the Panna Tiger Reserve as a Biosphere Reserve.
- Madhya Pradesh is considered as world’s Tiger Capital.
National Perspective Plan:
- National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan
- Formulated by – then Ministry of Irrigation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti)
- It envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects.
- Under NPP, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA), has identified 30 links (16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component) for the preparation of feasibility reports (FRs).
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following information:
Waterfall: Region: River
1. Dhuandhar: Malwa: Narmada
2. Hundru: Chota Nagpur : Subarnarekha
3. Gersoppa: Western Ghats: Netravati
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Dhuandhar Falls is located in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, created by the Narmada River. Jabalpur is in the Mahakoshal region, not the Malwa region. Gersoppa Falls, also known as Gerusoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi, is created by the Sharavathi River, falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft).