MP and UP inks ₹38,000-cr rivers linking pact

The Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have signed a tripartite pact with the Centre and also made it the country's first river interlinking pact connecting the Ken and Betwa rivers. Now, the stage is set for the implementation of the mega project involving ₹38,000 crore. The revised deal will allow MP to get additional water from the project and UP agreed to drop its demand for a higher share. The Centre did not agree to MP's demand to allow it to use the entire quantum of surplus water at the Daudhan dam site in the upper catchment area as the dam is one of the key components of the project. The Centre will create a special purpose vehicle, the Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority, for implementation of the project and will also bear 90% of the total project cost. The Prime Minister said that this is an important initiative to realize the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the interest of millions of masses of both the states and also reiterated that the project would benefit the entire Bundelkhand region.