Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the muse stone of the interstate Ken-Betwa river linking challenge to channel extra water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh into the Betwa, saying the long-awaited linkage will open new doorways of prosperity within the Bundelkhand area.
Almost 4.4 million folks throughout 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh and a couple of.1 million in 10 districts areas of Uttar Pradesh will get consuming water beneath the challenge, which is estimated to value ₹44,605 crore, and general 1,000,000 hectares of farmland masking 2,000 villages will profit from the challenge that can be projected to generate 103MW of hydropower and 27MW of photo voltaic power, officers conscious of the plans stated.
Additionally learn | Sonia Gandhi writes to Prakash Javadekar, asks him to not implement Ken-Betwa challenge
The challenge was first envisaged following a feasibility research by the Nationwide Water Improvement Authority (NWDA) in 1995 at a value of ₹1998.74 crore. Ten years later in 25 August, 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the Union Authorities for preparation of an in depth feasibility report, which was accomplished in 2014. In 2023, approval was acquired from the setting ministry, clearing all decks for the challenge.
Talking on the inauguration, the PM launched a scathing assault on the Congress, accusing it of short-changing residents by not constructing sufficient infrastructure and of ignoring Dr BR Ambedkar’s contribution to water sources growth within the nation. His feedback got here at a time when opposition events together with the Congress are accusing Union house minister Amit Shah of belittling Dr Ambedkar throughout a dialogue in Parliament on 75 years of the Structure. The Congress has been protesting throughout the nation citing a clipped portion of Shah’s feedback that was shared broadly on social media. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) has accused the Congress of intentionally taking the remarks out of context and of ignoring Ambedkar’s contribution in nation-building.
Additionally Learn | Defined: Ken-Betwa river interlinking challenge and environmental issues
“Ambedkar’s imaginative and prescient and farsightedness contributed considerably to the strengthening of the nation’s water sources, their administration and dam building. Ambedkar performed a vital position within the growth of main river valley tasks and formation of the Central Water Fee,” Modi stated at a rally after the muse laying ceremony.
The Central Water Fee is the central physique that regulates water movement via completely different states to minimise the affect of floods, displays over 100 dams throughout India, ensures their security, and advises the federal government on the development of recent dams and irrigation tasks.
“The Congress get together by no means paid heed to the nation’s rising want of water conservation, and by no means recognised Ambedkar’s efforts as a water conservationist,” Modi stated, alleging that the Congress dominated the nation believing that governance was its birthright. “The place the Congress is, governance can not occur,” Modi stated.
“Prior to now, Congress governments had been specialists in making bulletins, however folks by no means benefited from them. Congress governments neither had the intentions nor the seriousness to implement plans. Right this moment, we’re witnessing the advantages of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Farmers in MP are receiving ₹12,000 via this scheme. In MP, there may be the Ladli Behna Yojana; if we hadn’t opened financial institution accounts for ladies, might this scheme have been profitable?” the Prime Minister added.
Modi highlighted that the good problem of the twenty first century was water safety and stated international locations with enough water sources with correct administration will transfer ahead.
Additionally Learn | Bundelkhand Improvement Board needs native illustration in Ken Betwa Hyperlink Mission Authority
Throughout an occasion organised on the a hundredth beginning anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, celebrated as Good Governance Day, Modi additionally inaugurated the Omkareshwar Floating Photo voltaic Mission in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh nearly, and laid the muse stone of the Daudhan Irrigation Mission, a part of the river linking challenge.
Union water sources minister CR Patil and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav handed over two urns containing water from the Betwa and Ken rivers to Modi, who poured it over a mannequin of the challenge to launch the river linking work.
The PM stated the earlier Congress governments delayed tasks for 35-40 years after laying their basis stones, stressing that the get together didn’t work on the Ken-Betwa river challenge after coming to energy in 2004 and delayed it for over a decade. “When Atal ji’s authorities got here to energy, they labored severely to unravel water-related challenges, however after 2004, the Congress dismantled these efforts. Right this moment, our authorities is specializing in river-linking tasks,” he stated.
Modi blamed the Congress for farmers in Bundelkhand struggling for lack of irrigation amenities. “Such a state of affairs arose as a result of the Congress by no means considered everlasting options to the water disaster,” he stated.
Talking concerning the a hundredth beginning anniversary celebrations of Vajpayee, Modi stated it was an inspirational day.
“Atal ji’s contribution to the nation’s growth will at all times stay etched in our recollections. In Madhya Pradesh, the development of over 1,100 Atal Gram Seva Sadans is beginning as we speak, and the primary instalment for this has already been launched. These will give a brand new momentum to rural growth,” he stated.
Modi carried out the “bhumi pujan” (groundbreaking ceremony) for the development of 1,153 Atal Gram Sewa Sadans costing ₹437 crore on the Khajuraho occasion. He launched a commemorative stamp and a coin in Vajpayee’s reminiscence.
Reacting to the Ken-Betwa challenge launch occasion, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh stated the PM should issue within the environmental affect of his actions because the challenge poses a severe risk to the Panna tiger reserve, 40% of which might get submerged due to the development of Daudhan Dam.
“Right this moment the PM is giving another proof of the distinction between his ‘speak’ and ‘stroll’ on setting and forest issues. The Ken-Betwa river linking challenge for which he’s laying the muse stone as we speak poses a severe risk to the biodiversity-rich Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh,” Ramesh posted on X.
Panna has seen a outstanding revival within the tiger inhabitants. By early 2009, its tiger inhabitants had been fully worn out. After the tiger reintroduction programme launched 15 years in the past, the nation’s first such, the reserve now has 90-plus tigers, together with cubs and sub-adults, and is flourishing with sustainable tourism-based livelihoods, the previous setting minister stated in his publish.
The challenge will submerge over 10% of the core space of the tiger reserve, he stated.
Responding to Ramesh’s remarks, Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai stated MP is the one state the place forest cowl has elevated by 2%.
“The federal government has additionally been rising the tiger reserve space regularly and we’re additionally caring for our tigers and their inhabitants has been rising. The Ken-Betwa challenge will give water to drought affected Bundelkhand area. Ought to we simply depart them waterless? The BJP talks of Vikas and Virasat (growth and heritage) and we at all times search to strike a stability. Nonetheless, the Congress solely is aware of Siyasat (politics),” stated Bajpai.
