ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

AND RISK ASSESSMENT

PROJECT

“KEN BETWA LINKING PROJECT”-

River Valley Project

Submitted To- Dr.Krishna Das

Submitted by:

Harsh Kachhap 2223106 B.com (Hons.)

Harshit Chauhan 2223174 B.com (Hons.)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts
of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and
human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse.

UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool used to identify the environmental,
social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental
impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse
impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to
decision-makers. By using EIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as
reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoided treatment/clean-up costs and
impacts of laws and regulations.

Although legislation and practice vary around the world, the fundamental components of an EIA
would necessarily involve the following stages:

a. Screening to determine which projects or developments require a full or partial impact

assessment study;
b. Scoping to identify which potential impacts are relevant to assess (based on legislative
requirements, international conventions, expert knowledge and public involvement), to
identify alternative solutions that avoid, mitigate or compensate adverse impacts on
biodiversity (including the option of not proceeding with the development, finding alternative
designs or sites which avoid the impacts, incorporating safeguards in the design of the
project, or providing compensation for adverse impacts), and finally to derive terms of
reference for the impact assessment;
c. Assessment and evaluation of impacts and development of alternatives, to predict and
identify the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, including the
detailed elaboration of alternatives;
d. Reporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA report, including an
environmental management plan (EMP), and a non-technical summary for the general
audience.
e. Review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), based on the terms of reference
(scoping) and public (including authority) participation.
f. Decision-making on whether to approve the project or not, and under what conditions; and
g. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental auditing. Monitor whether the
predicted impacts and proposed mitigation measures occur as defined in the EMP. Verify the
compliance of proponent with the EMP, to ensure that unpredicted impacts or failed
mitigation measures are identified and addressed in a timely fashion.
 INDEX
• Introduction

• Location

• Timeline

• Overview of KBLP

• Overview of Eia report

• Environment baseline study

• Impact on socio-economy

• Recommendations

• References of Articles and Images

 Ken-Betwa Linking Project
INTRODUCTION

The Ken River originates at Ahirgawan in the Katni district in Madhya Pradesh and Betwa is a river
in Central and Northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. It rises in the Vindhya Range (Raisen)
just north of Narmadapuram in Madhya Pradesh and flows northeast through Madhya Pradesh and
Orchha to Uttar Pradesh

The Ken-Betwa Linking Project is a significant initiative undertaken by the Government of India to
address water scarcity and improve water resource management in the country. The project involves
the construction of a dam on the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh, which will create a reservoir to store
excess water during the monsoon season. This stored water will then be diverted through a canal
system to the Betwa River basin in Uttar Pradesh. This ambitious interlinking project aims to transfer
surplus water from the Ken River basin to the water-deficient Betwa River basin through a complex
system of dams, canals, and reservoirs.

Initially Agricultural finance Corporation Limited (AFC) carried out EIA study of the project which
was approved by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for EIA.

Technical studies for diversion of water from Ken River basin to Betwa river basin of Ganga main
basin have been carried out by National Water Development Agency (NWDA), a GOI society
under Ministry of Water Resources. These studies established that Betwa is a water shortage basin in
order to assess various environmental impacts from the project as well as to take mitigation
measures,the National Water Development Agency desired to have a comprehensive environmental
impact assessment study of the Ken-Betwa Link project.

It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers. The Ken-Betwa
Link Canal will be 221 km long, including a 2-km long tunnel.
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has chaired a meeting on Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP),
stating that it is the “flagship” project of the national government and it “is crucial for the water
security and socio-economic development of Bundelkhand region”.

 In December 2021, the Union Cabinet approved KBLP at a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore. In
this project.
 The project has been delayed due to political and environmental issues.

LOCATION :
Its basin lies between north latitudes 23°20' and 25°20' and east longitudes of 78°30' and 80°32'. The
river originates near the Village Ahirgawan in Jabalpur District of M.P. at an altitude of 550m above
mean sea level and joins the Yamuna River, near Chilla Village in U.P., at an elevation of about 95
m. It forms the common boundary between Panna and Chhatarpur Districts of M.P. and state
boundary between Chhatarpur District (M.P.) and Banda District (U.P.). The river has a total length
of 427 km, out of which 292 km lies in M.P., 84 km in U.P, and 51 km forms the common boundary.
The total catchment area of the Ken River basin is 28,058 sq. km, out of which 24,472 sq. km lies in
Madhya Pradesh and the balance 3,586 sq. km in Uttar Pradesh.
 TIMELINE

Ken Betwa river linking project timeline

 August 1980: The National Perspective Plan or NPP is formulated.
 August 2005: MoU signed by state governments of MP, UP and the central government, for
preparation of the DPR for the project.
 April 2010: The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) completes the DPR for
phase-I of the KBLP.
 January 2014: The NWDA completes the DPR for phase-II of the project.
 September 2014: Special Committee on interlinking of rivers (ILR) constituted, for
implementing the ILR programme.
 April 2015: A task force for interlinking of rivers was constituted by MoWR, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
 March 2021: Governments of UP and MP sign an MoU with the Jal Shakti Ministry for
implementing the Ken Betwa River linking project.
 December 2021: The Cabinet approved the funding and implementation of the project.
 February 2022: Government announces budget allocation of Rs 44,605 crore for the project
during the Union Budget 2022-23 The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report serves
as a crucial tool to evaluate the potential environmental, social, and economic consequences
of the project.

https://twitter.com/NWDA_MOWR/status/1672218116917702656?
t=j5Bjid3AHVm9XuUfUjnFLg&s=08
 KBLP OVERVIEW
The Ken Betwa River linking project, the construction schedule for which has been planned
foreight years, will be executed in two phases:

Phase-I: In the first phase of the Ken Betwa link pariyojna, the Daudhan dam complex and its
appurtenances, such as low-level tunnel, high-level tunnel, 221-kilometre Ken-Betwa link canal and
powerhouses will be completed.

Phase-II: In the second phase of the Ken Betwa linking project, the development works under the
Ken Betwa link project will be started for the lower Orr dam, Bina complex project and Kotha
barrage.

Source:- https://nwda.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/7692576720.JPG

The Ken Betwa Link Project, linking Ken and Betwa river, as shown on map, will cover several
districts in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The key components of the project include:

1. Dams and Reservoirs: The project involves the construction of the Daudhan Dam on the Ken
River, which will create a reservoir with a storage capacity of approximately 2.18 billion
 cubic meters. The dam will regulate the flow of water and ensure its availability during dry
periods.

2. Canals: A network of canals, including the Lower Orr Project Canal and the Kotha Barrage
Canal, will be constructed to transfer water from the Ken River reservoir to the Betwa River
basin. These canals will facilitate irrigation and provide water for various uses in the region.

3. Hydropower Generation: The project will also harness hydropower potential by installing a
power plant at the Daudhan Dam. This will contribute to clean energy generation and provide
an additional benefit to the project.

4. Environmental and Social Impacts: The project's implementation is subject to thorough

environmental and social impact assessments to evaluate and mitigate any potential adverse
effects. The project aims to minimize the displacement of communities and ensure the
preservation of the ecological balance in the region.

Benefits of Ken- Betwa Linking Project

1. The project lies in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region, which spreads across 13 districts of
Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
2. According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project will be of immense benefit to this water-
starved region.
3. Further, it will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects to ensure that scarcity of
water does not become an inhibitor for development in the country.

According to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the project is expected to provide annual irrigation of 10.62
lakh hectares, supply drinking water to about 62 lakh people, and generate 103 MW of hydropower
and 27 MW of solar power.
 EIA REPORT

What is Environmental Impact Assessment report?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report serves as a crucial tool to evaluate the potential
environmental, social, and economic consequences of the project.

The primary objective of the EIA report for the Ken-Betwa Linking Project is to provide an in-depth
analysis of the project's potential impacts, both positive and negative, on the surrounding
ecosystems, communities, and natural resources. It aims to assess the project's sustainability and
propose suitable mitigation measures to minimize any adverse effects. The report takes into
consideration various ecological, hydrological, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects to ensure a
comprehensive evaluation of the project's environmental footprint.

Here are some basic steps which were taken to create EIA report:-

1. Environmental Baseline Study: The EIA report begins with a detailed assessment of the
existing environmental conditions in the project area. It considers factors such as flora and
fauna, aquatic biodiversity, air quality, water quality, land use patterns, and geological
features. This study establishes a baseline against which the project's impacts can be
evaluated.

2. Impact Assessment: The EIA report examines the potential environmental impacts of the
project at various stages, including construction, operation, and maintenance. It analyzes the
likely effects on land use, water availability, water quality, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,
air and noise pollution, and socio-economic aspects. It also considers the cumulative impacts
in conjunction with other ongoing and planned projects in the region.

3. Mitigation Measures: The EIA report proposes appropriate mitigation and management
measures to minimize adverse impacts. These measures may include environmental
safeguards, ecological restoration plans, conservation strategies, community engagement
programs, and disaster management protocols. The report also outlines the institutional and
legal frameworks required for effective implementation and monitoring of these measures

4. Public Consultation: The EIA report incorporates a comprehensive public consultation

process to gather inputs, concerns, and feedback from stakeholders, including local
communities, NGOs, experts, and government agencies. Public participation is essential to
ensure that all perspectives are considered and to enhance the transparency and accountability
of the project.
5. Monitoring and Compliance: The EIA report outlines a robust monitoring and compliance
framework to assess the project's actual impacts against the predicted impacts. It includes
regular monitoring of key parameters, establishment of monitoring stations, reporting
mechanisms, and periodic evaluation to ensure adherence to environmental norms and
mitigation measures.
 ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE STUDY

Baseline status has been ascertained for the following areas

• Air environment

• Water environment

• Land environment

AIR ENVIRONMENT STATUS

Ambient Air Quality

Ambient air quality status has been observed at four locations covering Daudhan dam site and link
canal. The value of suspended particulate matter (SPM) varied between 154 and 242 μg/Nm,
whereas Sulphur dioxide (SO) ranged between 7 and 13,9Nm and oxides of Nitrogen (NO) varied
between 12 and 16 µg/Nm The values are within permissible limits the. ambient air quality for SPM

Noise Levels

Existing noise levels have also been observed at different locations as above. They are found to vary
between 48 and 51 dB (A). The permissible limits vary between 50 to 75 dB (A) during day time in
areas such as industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones (50). Thus, the noise levels are
within permissible limits.

Climate

The dimale of the project area is divided in to three distinct seasons namely monsoon or rainy season
from June to October (b) Post monsoon from November to February and (c) Pre monsoon from
March to May. The area is mostly influenced by south west monsoon.

Rainfall

Rainfall data has been collected in respect of rain gauge stations maintained by IMD for the years
from 1990 to 2005/2006. The mean annual rainfall of the Daudhan catchment area is 1080 mm with
44 rainy days. The monsoon rainfall accounts for 95.4 per cent of the annual rainfall.

WATER ENVIRONMENT STATUS

Surface and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for different parameters. The results
indicated that all the parameters are within permissible limits. The groundwater is good and fresh.
From the study of hydrographs, it was observed that the groundwater levels were failing in the
proposed command districts of Ken-Belwa link project Phase-l. The fall in groundwater levels in
these districts is mainly due to changes in climatic conditions (low rainfall) and land use.
All the command arsa districts, except for Mahoba district in UP, have substantial groundwater
potential available for imigation. In the entire command area of the project the stage of groundwater
development is less than 72 per cent except for Mahadba district wherein it is over 106 per cent.
Thus,the majority of the command area falls in the "safe category"

LAND ENVIRONMENT STATUS

Land Use and Land Cover

Land use and land cover in respect of Daudhan dam catchment including reservoir submergence
comprises 33.62% forest areas (of open, scrub, dense categories), open scrubs 15.81%, croplands of
48.09%, water bodies 1% and settlements of about 1.44%.
 SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT

Impact on Sensitive Locations

The Daudhan reservoir submerges ten villages including land physically possessed by the affected
families, homes, cattle sheds etc. Public properties like school, panchayat buildings and committee
lands etc. also affected. Survey of the area indicated that the affected villages do not have places of
historical importance. Also, the submergence area does not affect any religious places of national
importance expect for few local temples which can be established in the new proposed settlement
colonies.

Impact on Tourism
The Panna Tiger Reserve area coming under submergence is mainly located in right flank of dam
covered by steep hills, dense forest. Hence the dam site and its surroundings are not a major
attraction for tourists. Presently most of the tourists visit the Pandava Fals and only Plateau regions
of the National Park were open gross land with abundant numbers of herbivorous. These areas are in
downstream of Daudhan dam and will not submerge. On the other hand, reservoir is going to become
a tourism attraction when impounded with water. There are several tourist spots around the proposed
Daudhan area due to which the project site develops into a good tourist resort which is a positive
impact.

Public Health
Malaria is already prevalent in the area. The condition during construction and operation phase will
favour the spread of Malaria and gastroenteritis. There is scope for spread of STD and HIV diseases.

Change in Occupation Pattern

The resettlement and rehabilitation will result in charge in occupational pattem. There will not be a
remarkable change in the pattem and it could be considered as low.

Livestock

The project is dominated by cows and goats with 5 and 6 animals per household respectively. To a
lesser extent, it is he-buffaloes (0.13) and sheep (0.18).
Submergence of Lands
The construction of Daudhan reservoir under the project results in submergence of 2,171 ha of land.
In addition about 4,209.67 ha of land is required and to be acquired for Link Canal (2,492.32 ha),
Ken LBC (1,706.36 ha) and power houses (11.00 ha). In addition to this about 42.37 ha of land is
required for township, Housing plots, Infrastructure and civic amenities and green belt. The creation
of the Daudhan reservoir results in the submergence of 10 villages. All the villages coming under
submergence due to the construction of reservoir are located in Chattarpur district of MP. The
number of households in these affected villages was in the range of 46 to 438 per village.

Project Affected Villages

The Project Affected Villages are those villages where the Government lands, privale lands or both
have to be acquired for construction of the proposed Phase-l Ken-Betwa Link Irrigation Project.
There are 10 project affected villages and their total geographical area. About 1585 household
families are going to be affected due to construction of Daudhan reservoir.

Demography
The total population of these 10 villages is 1585 as per the door to door survey. The sex rate is 866
females per 1000 males in the study area.

Literacy
The literacy rate of the study area is 37.4%. The male literacy rate (42.3%) is about 10 percent higher
than the female literacy rate of 31.4%, Among all the villages, Shahpura has the highest rate of
literacy at 40.9% in Daudhan submergence area.

Occupational Distribution
The occupational distribution of the workers indicated that the prominent occupation is agricultural
labour which accounted for about 56.38% of total workers and is followed by cultivators (38%). All
other services account for 2.07 % ranks as the next important category followed by livestock
(0.66%), trade and commerce (0.65%) and industry (0.04%). About 63% of the female workers are
engaged in agriculture labour while 52% male workers are dependent on it The percentage of
cultivators among the male workers is 41.69 % and is higher than the corresponding percentage of
32.86% among female workers
 RECOMMENDATIONS

The Ken-Betwa Linking Project is a significant interlinking of rivers (ILR) project in India, aimed at
transferring surplus water from the Ken River basin in Madhya Pradesh to the water-deficient Betwa
River basin in Uttar Pradesh. While I can provide some general recommendations for ILR projects,
please note that as an AI language model, I don't have access to the most recent updates or specific
details beyond my September 2021 knowledge cutoff. It is important to consult the latest information
and expert opinions for the most accurate recommendations. Here are some general
recommendations for the government to consider when focusing on the project for the Ken-Betwa
Linking Project:

Stakeholder Consultation:
Involve all relevant stakeholders, including local communities, environmental organizations, and
experts, in the decision-making process. Consider their concerns, suggestions, and perspectives to
ensure transparency, address potential conflicts, and minimize adverse impacts.

Adaptive Management Approach:

Implement an adaptive management approach that allows for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and
adjustment of project operations based on scientific data and changing conditions. This will help
mitigate potential risks and ensure effective water management.

Compensation and Rehabilitation:

Develop comprehensive plans for compensating and rehabilitating affected communities, including
land acquisition, resettlement, and livelihood restoration. Ensure that the project does not
disproportionately impact vulnerable communities and that their rights and well-being are
safeguarded.

Public Awareness and Education:

Conduct awareness campaigns and educational programs to inform the public about the project's
objectives, benefits, and potential impacts. Foster a sense of ownership and responsibility among the
local communities to promote sustainable water management practices.

It's crucial to consult with relevant experts, government agencies, and stakeholders to develop
specific recommendations tailored to the unique circumstances of the Ken-Betwa Linking Project.
 References

• https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ken-betwa-river-link-project

• https://housing.com/news/ken-betwa-link-project/amp/

• https://nwda.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/7692576720.JPG

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1779306
• https://nwda.gov.in/content/search.php?
cx=009166207481149357514%3Amz4zahaagea&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-
8&q=Ken+betwa&x=67&y=14#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Ken%20betwa&gsc.page=2

• https://twitter.com/NWDA_MOWR/status/1672218116917702656?
t=j5Bjid3AHVm9XuUfUjnFLg&s=08

• https://www.scribd.com/document/486957052/Ken-Betwa-Link-Project-EIA#

• https://www.cbd.int/impact/whatis.shtml