Madhya Pradesh: Ken-Betwa River link project to be sent to NBWL for approval

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board has decided to send the Ken-Betwa River Link Project to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for approval, a government official said today.

"The state Wildlife Board at its meeting here yesterday, chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, discussed various aspects and issues pertaining to the Ken-Betwa River Link project and decided to forward it to the National Wildlife Board for approval," an official of the Public Relations department said.

Before arriving at the consensus, the expert members of the board discussed the possible effects on wildlife due to the project, he said.

The Chief Minister said it should be ensured that wildlife is not harmed in any way and their habitats are not affected. He directed the officials to initiate precautionary measures for the same.

Once completed, the Ken-Betwa River Link project would mitigate the drought situation in the Bundelkhand region. It would irrigate 5.75 lakh hectares of land and provide drinking water to about 14 lakh people, the official said.

The consensus was reached on the conditions that in lieu of submergence of the affected area, other forest area in the east should be included in the core area.

Villages in forest areas should be resettled at the project's expenditure. Landscape management planning should be undertaken through the Wildlife Institute of India.

Dam construction should be completed at the earliest and the labourers' accommodation should be outside Panna national park, it was decided.

A study should be undertaken through the Bombay Natural History Society to assess the impact on habitats of vultures due to the project. Ecological flow would be ensured in downstream of the dam, the official said.

State Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar and top state government officials and members of the Board among others attended the meeting.