The river linking project has already received wildlife clearance from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), and the expert advisory committee of the environment ministry has recommended that it be given clearance too.
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the environment ministry, in a meeting last week flagged several issues pertaining to the Ken-Betwa river. They discussed the impact on the large-scale submergence of forests and wildlife habitats inside Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) because of the Ken-Betwa river linking project, highly placed sources told DNA.
The project was subjected to scrutiny on the basis of a site inspection report of its sub-committee. The FAC, among other things, has sought to examine if the height of the project dam can be reduced by at least 10 metres. They also proposed a realignment of the project canal to reduce diversion of forest land.
The river linking project has already received wildlife clearance from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), and the expert advisory committee of the environment ministry has recommended that it be given clearance too.
Pegged at more than Rs 10,000 crore, the project involves construction of a 77 metre tall and 2,031 metre wide dam at Daudhan. A 221-km long canal will also be built to transfer the water from Ken river basin to Betwa river basin for irrigating an estimated 6.35 lakh hectares of land in parched Bundelkhand. A total of 6017 hectares of forest will be diverted for the project, but 5454 hectares of pristine forest in Panna will be submerged under water.
Sources say the FAC members believe that reducing the dam height is the only way to save the unique ecosystems in caves, gorges and rock crevices in PTR along both banks of the Ken river and reduce its fragmentation. The long-billed vultures use the rock crevices as nesting sites while the caves are inhabited by sloth bears, tigers and leopards.
This is not the first time that reduction of the height of the dam has been discussed. Last year, an expert body constituted by the NBWL, had recommended reduction in height of the Daudhan dam. The Water Resources Ministry had argued that reducing the dam height will substantially reduce the irrigation command area. Eventually, the recommendation was dropped.
During the meeting, the committee also noted that the cost-benefit analysis of the project submitted by National Water Development Agency, has not considered the ecosystem services lost due to loss of pristine forests and unique riverine ecosystem. It has thus sought a detailed study on ecosystem services and goods, through a reputed institution.
Reportedly, the committee has also discussed the issue of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.
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