Govt gives Rs.39,317cr support to Daudhan Dam-related projects in MP-UP
The Cabinet has approved Rs.39,317 crore for funding Rs.44,605 crore Ken-Betwa inter-linking of rivers for transferring water through the construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project.
The approved central support of Rs.39,317 crore covers grant of Rs.36,290 crore and loan of Rs.3,027 crore for the project under an agreement was signed by the Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in March 2021 to implement the first major centrally driven river interlinking project in the country.
The project will pave the way for more interlinking of river projects in India and also showcase to the world our ingenuity and vision, said the Cabinet in a release on 8 Dec 2021.
The project will provide an annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water supply to a population of about 62 lakhs and also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW solar power. The Project is proposed to be implemented in 8 years with state of the art technology.
It will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand region, spread across the states of MP and UP. This project will provide enormous benefits to the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.
The project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation. It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region.
A comprehensive landscape management plan for the project is being finalised by the Wildlife Institute of India. fiinews.com
