Ken-Betwa river linking project to be launched once its funding pattern is decided: Uma Bharti

NEW DELHI: The ambitious Ken-Betwa river-linking project will be launched once its funding pattern is decided, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said here today.

The Ministry has received wildlife clearance for the multi-crore project, first such initiative aimed at linking inter-state rivers in the country. However, it awaits forest and environment approvals.

"The NITI Aayog had earlier recommended funding pattern for the project as per Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). I have requested the Aayog that the funding pattern has to be 90:10 (Centre: state sharing pattern) or 100 per cent (Centrally-funded).

"The moment the funding pattern is decided, the project will be launched," she said.

Bharti made the remarks during an event in which she handed over Rs 1981-crore cheque issued by NABARD to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu for Polavaram project.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu also attended the event.

Bharti though did not specify by when the funding pattern will be finalised for the river-linking project.

Besides Andhra Pradesh, the NABARD issued cheques worth Rs 830 crore and Rs 463 crore as assistance for completing irrigation projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively.

The Ken-Betwa project is expected to irrigate 6.35 lakh hectares of land at an estimated cost of Rs 9,393 crore in the Bundelkhand region covering parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.