Bundelkhand Irrigation Projects and Displacement

Context

Tribal and farming communities in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna and Chhatarpur districts continued their Jal Satyagraha to demand fair compensation and rehabilitation for people affected by the Majhgaon irrigation project and other Bundelkhand projects, including the Ken Betwa Link Project.

Key Highlights

• Ken Betwa Link Project: Valued at ₹44,000 crore, it is the first river linking project under the National Perspective Plan.
• Project Objectives: The projects aim to address drought and irrigation shortages in Bundelkhand, but may also affect settlements, agricultural land, forests and livelihoods.
• Protesters’ Concerns: Protesters alleged faulty surveys, the inclusion of ineligible beneficiaries, the exclusion of genuine residents and delays in compensation.
• Land Acquisition: Official records reported the acquisition of 988 hectares of private land from 1,006 owners for the Majhgaon project.
• Governance Challenges: Police action, arrests, and inadequate dialogue have deepened mistrust and turned compensation related disputes into a governance conflict.
• Limitations of Compensation: Monetary compensation alone cannot replace common resources, social networks, and long term livelihood security.

Ken Betwa Link Project: Key Features

• Water Transfer: A 218 km long main canal is proposed to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
• Hydropower Generation: The project is expected to generate 78 MW of electricity.
• Drinking Water Supply: Around 49 million cubic metres of drinking water is expected to reach 1.4 million people across both states.
• Land Submergence: The proposed reservoir is expected to submerge 9,000 hectares of land, including 5,258 hectares of forest land and 4,141 hectares within the Panna Tiger Reserve, as shown in the source infographic.
• Irrigation Benefits: A total of 6,35,661 hectares is expected to receive irrigation water.
  • Madhya Pradesh: 3,69,881 hectares
  • Uttar Pradesh: 2,65,780 hectares

Key Concepts

• Jal Satyagraha: A non violent form of protest in which affected people stand in water to oppose displacement or demand their rights.
• Social Impact Assessment: An evaluation of a project’s effects on people, livelihoods, and community institutions.
• Rehabilitation and Resettlement: Measures intended to restore housing, livelihoods, and social conditions after displacement.

Way Forward

Conduct transparent household and land surveys, ensure independent grievance hearings and revise official cut off dates wherever delays have occurred. Rehabilitation should focus on restoring land based livelihoods, while consent based dialogue should be prioritised over coercive policing.