India implements Ken-Betwa Link Project among 30 river plans

The Government of India has identified 30 river interlinking projects under its National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Inter-Basin Water Transfer. These include 16 projects in the Peninsular component and 14 in the Himalayan component.

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary informed the Rajya Sabha that the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the only priority project under the NPP to have entered the implementation stage. Estimated at ₹44,605 crore, the project aims to provide irrigation to approximately 11.88 lakh hectares, drinking water to 62 lakh people, 103 MW of hydropower, and 27 MW of solar power.

Additionally, the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which includes the Godavari-Krishna link, is classified as a National Project. Executed by the Andhra Pradesh government and the Polavaram Project Authority, it seeks to irrigate 7.2 lakh acres, stabilize 23.5 lakh acres in the Godavari and Krishna delta systems, and generate 960 MW of hydropower. The project has received ₹20,658 crore in cumulative Central Assistance.