The Department of Water Resources under the Ministry of Jal Shakti on Thursday, June 2, released the final report of the Integrated Landscape Management Plan for Greater Panna Landscape. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) prepared the integrated landscape management plan in respect of the Ken-Betwa Link project.  

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The project has been created after extensive fieldwork using advanced scientific tools and techniques. The team, led by Scientist Dr. K. Ramesh, WII, analyzed the data and came up with detailed site-specific inputs for the implementation of the proposed activities. 

Integrated Landscape Management Plan

The Integrated Landscape Management Plan provides for better habitat protection, and management of flagship species such as tigers, vultures, and gharial. It will help to holistically consolidate the landscape for biodiversity conservation and human well-being, especially the forest-dependent communities. 

The plan is expected to enhance tiger carrying capacity in the landscape by strengthening connectivity with Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavatiwildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Ranipurwildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.

Ken-Betwa Link Project

The first major centrally driven river interlinking project in the country, the Government of India approved the Ken-Betwa Link Project in December 2021 for implementation, following the signing of the agreement between the Union Minister of Jal Shakti and the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

The project involves the transfer of water from the Ken to the Betwa River through the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage-and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project. Further, it will provide 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 of solar power. The Project is proposed to be implemented in 8 years with state-of-the-art technology. 

This agreement is also an example of inter-state cooperation to carry water from areas that have surpluses to drought-prone and water deficit areas, through the interlinking of rivers. The Project will be of immense benefit to the water-starved Bundelkhand region, spread across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Further, the project aims to benefit the districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh.