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News 9 of 27

Ken-Betwa River Linking Project Triggers ₹44,000 Cr Dam Dispute & Stone-Pelting Involving 22 Villages In MP

InfrastructureSocial IssuesEnvironmentPolityHIGH
Target:UPSCMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
14 May 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:₹44,000 crore22 villages affectedOver 7,000 families displacedDecember 2021December 2024221 km canal
Bodies:Union Cabinet
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What This Article Covers

1.Stone-pelting violence erupted in Daudhan village (Chhatarpur, MP) during demolition of structures for the Ken-Betwa river linking project's Daudhan dam.

2.The ₹44,000 crore project, approved in Dec 2021, will submerge 22 villages, displace 7,000+ families, and aims to irrigate 10 lakh hectares in Bundelkhand.

3.Tribal communities (Gond, Kol) demand 'land for land' rehabilitation citing flaws in compensation under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, raising exam-worthy questions on development vs. displacement.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Violence in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district highlights escalating conflict over land acquisition for the Ken-Betwa river linking project, a ₹44,000 crore national infrastructure flagship. This incident underscores the critical challenges of rehabilitation under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act for tribal communities facing displacement.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Project Cost₹44,000 crore
Villages Affected22 villages (10 fully submerged)
Families DisplacedOver 7,000 families
Cabinet Approval DateDecember 2021
Foundation StoneDecember 2024 by PM Modi
Compensation DisbursedOver ₹700 crore
Relevant ActRight to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
Tribal CommunitiesGond and Kol
Canal Length221 km

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Project Cost: ₹44,000 crore
  • ›Villages Affected: 22 villages (10 fully submerged)
  • ›Target this Data: ₹44,000 crore (Project cost), 22 villages affected, Over 7,000 families displaced.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Union Cabinet (Approved project), District Administration (Chhatarpur Collector).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which major legislation governs the land acquisition and rehabilitation process for the Ken-Betwa project mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project:

1. It is India's first major inter-basin river linking project and was formally cleared by the Union Cabinet in December 2021.

2. The project involves constructing a dam on the Betwa river and a canal to transfer water to the Ken basin.

3. The Daudhan dam, core of the project, is expected to submerge 22 villages and displace over 7,000 families in Chhatarpur and Panna districts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the estimated cost of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a primary demand of the tribal communities protesting against the Ken-Betwa project's displacement, as mentioned in the article?

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