Podcasts · In Focus by The Hindu

The Ken-Betwa protest: Is there really surplus water to transfer?

7 Aug 2026 · 26 min

The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India's first river-linking project, has once again come under the spotlight amid protests by villagers, many from tribal communities, who fear displacement and question the rehabilitation process. But beyond the immediate protests lies a larger debate over the science, hydrology and long-term viability of the project. In this episode, we unpack how the project is designed to work, what it means for the Ken and Betwa river basins, and whether the idea of a “surplus” river is scientifically sound. The conversation also explores the communities that stand to be affected, the links between environmental impacts and rehabilitation, the role of forests and river ecosystems in maintaining water security, and whether alternatives such as watershed development, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge could offer more sustainable solutions for Bundelkhand. Finally, we examine what the Ken-Betwa project could mean for the future of India's wider river-linking programme, with 30 such projects proposed under the National Perspective Plan.

Guest: Himanshu Thakkar (Coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People) Host: Devyanshi Bihani

Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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