Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, December 25, 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday officially launched the Ken-Betwa River Link Project, a transformative initiative expected to improve water supply and irrigation facilities across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing the event, Modi highlighted the scale and impact of the ₹44,605 crore project, which aims to provide drinking water to approximately 65 lakh people across ten districts in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh. “This project represents a new chapter in fulfilling the water needs of millions, especially for drinking and agricultural use,” Modi said.
The river-linking initiative will benefit over 7 lakh agricultural families in 2,000 villages by enhancing irrigation, while also producing 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy. This is expected to boost both regional agriculture and renewable energy output.
During the event, Union Water Resources Minister CR Patil and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav handed two urns filled with water from the Betwa and Ken rivers to PM Modi. The prime minister symbolically poured the water over a model, officially marking the project’s commencement.
Additionally, Modi virtually inaugurated the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Khandwa, designed to contribute significantly to Madhya Pradesh’s renewable energy capacity.
In recognition of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s contributions, particularly his advocacy for river linking, Modi unveiled a commemorative coin and stamp on the occasion of Vajpayee’s birth centenary. “Vajpayee’s vision continues to guide our efforts in utilizing natural resources to promote sustainable growth,” Modi noted.
Furthermore, the prime minister conducted a ‘bhumi pujan’ for the construction of 1,153 Atal Gram Sewa Sadans, an essential rural development initiative valued at ₹437 crore. These centers will play a crucial role in providing necessary services to the rural population, further emphasizing the government’s focus on grassroots-level infrastructure development.
