Rising Waters Spark Protests Against India’s $87 Billion River-Linking Project

Villagers in Madhya Pradesh are protesting India’s ambitious $87 billion river-linking project as rising waters flood homes, temples and ancestral lands. The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, the first phase of a nationwide plan to connect around 30 rivers, aims to transfer water to drought-prone regions and improve irrigation, drinking water supplies and food security. However, affected tribal communities say they will not leave their ancestral homes without adequate compensation and rehabilitation.

The government has offered residents in Panna district at least ₹12.5 lakh per hectare, more than double its initial compensation offer. District officials say payments have already been made to over 90% of affected people. However, many villagers argue that the compensation does not cover the full extent of their losses. Local priest Dhaniram Bhatnagar said the temple where he worked had been completely submerged, leaving him without his only source of income.

Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the proposed Daudhan Dam, which is expected to submerge around 9,000 hectares of land, including a significant portion of the Panna Tiger Reserve. While the government says environmental damage can be mitigated through tree planting and wildlife conservation measures, critics question the project’s ecological impact and scientific feasibility. The government maintains that the project will help tackle chronic water shortages in the Bundelkhand region by providing irrigation, drinking water and hydropower.

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