Centre urges UP, MP govts to speed up land acquisition for link canal

The Centre has urged both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to expedite land acquisition and promptly complete all pending Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) with regard to the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

This river interlinking project proposes to transport excess water from the Ken River in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa River in Uttar Pradesh in order to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.

The sixth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority took place on Friday here. It was chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Mukherjee emphasised the project's significance for the Bundelkhand region and underscored the need to employ best practices in construction to protect the environment, biodiversity and promote community development.

She lauded the Madhya Pradesh government for the timely transfer of land to the Forest Department, meeting the