Factual position on Ken–Betwa Link Project

The Ministry of Jal Shakti clarified that the Ken–Betwa Link Project – India’s first major river‑linking scheme under the National Perspective Plan – aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares, supply drinking water to nearly 62 lakh people and generate 103 MW of hydropower in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Of the estimated ₹44,604.99 crore cost, ₹12,445.85 crore has been spent up to July 2026. Compensation under the RFCTLARR Act and a special rehabilitation package includes ₹7 lakh (rural) or ₹6.5 lakh (urban) per eligible family, with 93 % of ₹629.87 crore awards already disbursed. The Jan Vishwas programme has recently provided health, livelihood and scholarship support to displaced families.