The Ken River, one of central India’s last major free flowing rivers, has become the centre of a growing debate as work progresses on the Rs 44,605 crore Ken Betwa Link Project India’s first major river interlinking initiative.
Stretching 427 kilometres from the Kaimur Hills in Madhya Pradesh to its confluence with the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh, the river flows through the Panna Biosphere Reserve and supports a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gharials, mugger crocodiles and more than 110 freshwater fish species.
Scientific assessments by institutions including the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Centre for River Research have indicated that the proposed Daudhan Dam reservoir could submerge around 258 square kilometres of habitat within the Panna Tiger Reserve, including areas used by tigers and nesting vultures.
The Ken Betwa project aims to transfer water from the Ken basin to the water scarce Betwa basin in Bundelkhand through a network of dams, canals and tunnels. The project is expected to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares, provide drinking water to nearly 62 lakh people and generate 130 MW of hydropower.
The river carves a dramatic 60 kilometre gorge through the Bijawar Panna hills, with depths reaching nearly 180 metres. These gorges, seasonal streams and deep pools create a mosaic of habitats that support a rich diversity of species.
Conservationists say the Ken is particularly important because it still follows its natural seasonal rhythm. Monsoon floods replenish floodplains and transport nutrient rich sediments downstream, while summer pools provide vital refuges for aquatic life.
The rocky cliffs along the river also serve as nesting sites for critically endangered white rumped, Indian and red headed vultures. Researchers have recorded at least 41 bird species in the riverscape, including several winter migrants.
Ecological concerns over the link project
Experts have warned that altering the river’s flow through dams and barrages could affect aquatic habitats, disrupt fish migration routes and change the ecological processes that support biodiversity across the wider landscape.
The proposed reservoir is expected to affect parts of the Panna Tiger Reserve, which has gained international recognition for its successful tiger reintroduction programme since 2009. During Bundelkhand’s dry summers, the Ken serves as the primary water source for much of the reserve’s wildlife.
Local protests continue
The project has also prompted protests from tribal communities and farmers in parts of Madhya Pradesh. Protesters have demanded transparent land surveys, adequate compensation and fair rehabilitation before any relocation takes place.
Community groups argue that the river is not only a source of water but also a foundation for local livelihoods, fisheries and cultural traditions that have existed for generations.
Development versus conservation
Supporters of the Ken Betwa Link Project say it is essential for addressing chronic water scarcity in Bundelkhand, improving irrigation coverage and providing drinking water to millions of people.
Environmental groups counter that the Ken’s ecological value cannot be measured solely in terms of water transfer or storage capacity. They describe the river as a living corridor that connects forests, wildlife and human settlements across central India.
As construction advances, the Ken River has emerged as a test case in India’s broader debate over balancing large-scale water infrastructure projects with the protection of ecologically sensitive landscapes.
Source: Publicly available scientific assessments and reports on the Ken Betwa Link Project